New Delhi: Starting Monday, CNN-IBN takes a closer look at each of the eight teams participating in the IPL. Starting with the finalists from the first season, champions Rajasthan Royals and runners-up Chennai Super Kings, how do the two teams stack up a year after their brush with glory?
Sporting a fake moustache during their opening warm-up game, captain Shane Warne says: "It's a bit itchy at the moment, but if you're in the crowd it won't affect the drinking too much."
The defending champions have earned the right to twirl the moustache. From no hopers to champions on a stormy Mumbai night a year ago, what a story the Royals were.
Now they have journeyed to South Africa with their canny captain at the helm. The first warm-up game didn't go exactly to script, but there are no alarm bells even in defeat.
The royals will have to do without a couple of pillars from last year for most of this season, but there are some exciting new additions: the pacy Shaun Tait and mercurial South African all-rounder Tyron Henderson.
And not to forget, cheering on from the sidelines will be the new co-owner Shilpa Shetty, who is already shaking merrily to the tune of Halla Bol.
Last year, Chennai's adopted son was quite the rage, leading the way in the promotional videos as well as on the field. Chennai stumbled at the final hurdle but seem stronger this year than the first season.
"I think we will be strong because we lead well," says captain-cum-coach Stephen Fleming. "The two strong leaders in Warne and Dhoni came through last year. Leadership is still very important."
That isn't an empty boast. For the first half, the fiery Andrew Flintoff, fresh from his hat-trick taking exploits in the Caribbean will be available, so will the foxy Muttiah Muralitharan for the whole season, as is the recently retired Matthew Hayden, and the experienced Makhaya Ntini. The Super Kings could be the team to watch out for
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