The IPL is the most exciting thing to hit cricket since Sachin Tendulkar burst onto the scene in the late 1980's. It has taken the new Twenty 20 format to a whole new level, giving players from around the world the opportunity to earn the kind of money that their counterparts in football and other sports are getting.
The Tournament is held every year for about 6 weeks, starting in May. It consists of 8 teams from around India. Before the tournament started in 2008, the best players in the world were auctioned to each team. The auction was based on how much each team was willing to pay a player. The highest bidders would land their man.
The tournament begins with a league format, where each team plays the others twice. The top four teams then qualify for the semi finals, where the top team plays the fourth placed team, and second and third battle it out. The winners of the semi finals meet in the final for the coveted IPL trophy and a bucket of money.
The tournament has attracted the biggest names in cricket. However, it is not to everyone's liking, as many international cricket boards have banned their players from playing due to clashes with international matches and training programmes. Most players who enter the IPL are in it for the money, as this could be their last chance to save up for a well deserved pension!
In 2009, The Deccan Chargers, captained by VVS Laxman, took the trophy in an epic final against the Bangalore Royal Challengers.