IPL 2012
Indian Premier League in the year 2012 will begin on 4th April 2012 and the final match will be played on 27th May 2012. A total of 76 matches will be played in the duration. Both the opening and the closing matches will be played at Chennai. The termination of Kochi Tuskers Kerala makes the number of the teams participating 9 from10 the last year. Andrew McDonald, Pragyan Ojha, Kevin Pietersen, Dinesh Karthik, R Satish and Harmeet Singh will be playing for teams different than the ones they played for the last year.
The much talked about Indian Premier League is due for its fifth season and has been making news ever since it first started in the year 2008. However, it has not always been talked for right reasons. The media had a field day reporting massive amounts for which the players were hired, the keen interest of foreign players in IPL for the very reason, generous sums that BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India and the governing body for the IPL) spent to organize the event, the glitterati of India showing a keen interest in the event and buying the franchisees when they were up for sale, the all decked up and happening IPL after parties and what not.
IPL is India's professional league and its answer to other international leagues like those of England and Australia. However, IPL surpassed them all by its sheer fan following. The scale at which the event is organized is something which could not be easily matched. IPL established the fact that BCCI indeed is the richest cricket control board.
The IPL teams
| Mumbai Indians | Delhi Daredevils |
|---|---|
| Royal Challengers | Kings 11 Punjab |
| Hyderabad Deccan Chargers | Rajasthan Royals |
| Chennai Super Kings | Kolkata Knight Riders |
| Pune Warriors India (Joined in 2011) | *Kochi Tuskers Kerala (joined in 2011 but no longer a member of IPL) |
*Kochi Tuskers Kerala had been terminated following with the charges of breach of contract, after it played its first and last IPL season in the year 2011.
IPL History
| Season | Number of teams | Finalists | The Winners |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 8 | Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings | Rajasthan Royals |
| 2009 | 8 | Hyderabad Deccan Chargers and Royal Challengers Bangalore | Hyderabad Deccan Chargers |
| 2010 | 8 | Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians | Chennai Super Kings |
| 2011 | 10 | Chennai Super Kings and Royal Challengers Bangalore | Chennai Super Kings |
Some Quick IPL Facts
:- Suresh Raina has maximum total of runs (1813) in all the IPL seasons so far. He plays for the Chennai Super Kings.
- RP Singh of Deccan Chargers is the bowler with maximum wickets in IPL. As many as 64 players were sent back to pavilion by him.
- The highest ever score in IPL is 158*. Brendon McCullum is the player to have this record to his credit.
- Adam Gilchrist has hit maximum number of sixes (82) in the IPL so far.
- Gautam Gambhir is the highest paid IPL player till date. Kolkata Knight Riders spent $2.4 million to get him to play for the team in the year 2011.
