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The Indian Premier League Twenty20 tournament begins on Saturday when the Deccan Chargers meet the Kolkata Knight Riders. Southland Times cricket reporter Logan Savory takes a look at how the eight teams shape up.

THE TEAMS

DELHI DAREDEVILS

Marquee player: Tillakaratne Dilshan
Other key players: Virender Sehwag, David Warner, Dirk Nannes
Kiwi connection: Black Caps captain Daniel Vettori will join the Daredevils for the second half of the tournament
Coach: Greg Shipperd
Last year: Beaten semifinalists
TAB odds: $4.50
The lowdown: In Dilshan, Sehwag and Warner they have three of the most powerful and free-flowing batsmen in the world on their roster. If you chip one out you have the next one to contend with. Add to that a couple of handy bowlers in Vettori and Nannes and there is little wonder they are favourites
Predicted finish: Competition winners

ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE

Marquee player: Kevin Pietersen
Other key players: Cameron White, Ross Taylor, Jacques Kallis
Kiwi connection: Taylor will join the Bangalore setup following the test series in New Zealand. Jesse Ryder has been ruled out through injury
Coach: Ray Jennings
Last year: Runners-up
TAB odds: $7
The lowdown: The 2009 runners-up have more than enough batting to compete with any team, especially with the in-form Cameron White playing for them. The bowling may be a touch down on the quality that other sides have
Predicted finish: Runners-up

CHENNAI SUPER KINGS

Marquee player: MS Dohni
Other key players: Muralidaran, Albie Morkel, Suresh Raina
Kiwi connection: Jacob Oram is in the squad but at the moment is on the injured list. Former New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming will coach the team
Coach: Stephen Fleming
Last year: Beaten semifinalists
TAB odds: $6.50
The lowdown: With the astute Stephen Fleming in charge the Super Kings must be respected. With his cricketing nous is a host useful players, although they probably don'y have the endless superstar names that some other teams possess
Predicted finish: 3rd

KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS

Marquee player: Chris Gayle
Other key players: Sourav Ganguly, Shane Bond, Brad Hodge
Kiwi connection: Bond and McCullum are both contracted to the Knight Rriders although McCullum is expected to miss the first half of the tournament because of the New Zealand-Australia test series
Coach: Dav Whatmore
Last year: Last
TAB odds: $7
The lowdown: Surprisingly the Knight Riders finished last last year despite possesing a powerful opening combination in Gayle and McCullum. Those two must fire if Kolkata are to turn the last-placed finish into a title this time around
Predicted finish: 4th

DECCAN CHARGERS

Marquee player: Adam Gilchrist
Other key players: Andrew Symonds, Kemar Roach, Ryan Harris
Kiwi connection: Scott Styris is contracted to the Chargers
Coach: Darren Lehmann
Last year: Competition winners.
TAB odds: $6.50
The lowdown: Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist blasted 29 sixes on the way to helping his team through to the 2009 IPL title. He'll need to produce similar results this year and find backing from fellow Australian Andrew Symonds
Predicted finish: 5th

MUMBAI INDIANS

Marquee player: Sachin Tendulkar
Other key players: JP Duminy, Keiron Pollard, Sanath Jayasuriya
Kiwi connection: Central Districts English import Graham Napier will front for the Indians
Coach: Robin Singh
Last year: 7th
TAB odds: $7
The lowdown: The Indians have thrown most of the eggs into the same basket with the big-money signing of young West Indian all-rounder Pollard. Their camp obviously see him as a key to their chances
Predicted finish: 6th

KINGS 11 PUNJAB

Marquee player: Yuvraj Singh
Other key players: Kumar Sangakkara, Mohammed Kaif, James Hopes
Kiwi connection: No New Zealanders are involved in the Royals setup
Coach: Tom Moody
Last year: 5th
TAB odds: $11
The lowdown: Hard-hitting Indian batsman Yurvraj Singh will carry much of his team's hopes and he will need a starting display also from Australian James Hopes to push from a spot in the playoffs
Predicted finish: 7th

RAJASTHAN ROYALS
Marquee player: Shaun Tait
Other key players: Shane Warne, Morne Morkel, Dimitri Mascarenhas
Kiwi connection: No New Zealanders are involved in the Royals setup
Coach: Darren Berry
Last year: 6th
TAB odds: $7
The lowdown: In Tait and Warne the Royals have two players who are capable of sending a few fears into opposition batting lineups but it is hard to see their batsman posting big enough totals to bring them into play
Predicted finish: Last.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The IPL will start on Saturday and run through to April 25, when the final will be held

Sky TV will screen all 60 games live

The eight teams will play each other twice in round-robin play before the top two teams progress to the semifinals

2010 will be the third time the IPL tournament has been held

Many of the IPL teams are owned by Bollywood actors in India

Next year two more teams will be added to take it from eight to 10

- © Fairfax NZ News