Team Mumbai exemplifies the essence of its home city. The land of a myriad dreams is a melting pot and Mumbai Indians does its best to showcase the same. This franchise is the most expensive in the league and has a fantastic side headed by none other than the Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar who is also its Icon Player.

Harbhajan Singh, Robin Uthappa, Sanath Jayasuriya, Shaun Pollock, Lasith Malinga, Dilhara Fernando, Loots Bosman alongside young talent from Mumbai Abhishek Nayar, Ajinkya Rahane, Pinal Shah and Yogesh Takawade make up the Mumbai squad balancing youth and experience. Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Limited owns the team and one can surely look forward to some scintillating performances from the Mumbai Indians.

The Eden Gardens will be home to the Kolkata Knight Riders. The star-studded squad comprises of some of the biggest names in world cricket. Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting, Chris Gayle of the West Indies, Brendon McCullum of New Zealand and rising Indian star Ishant Sharma are on this envious roster. Sourav Ganguly, the Prince of Kolkata, has been accorded Icon Player status and will lead the side.

Owned by the Badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan, the franchise has left no stone unturned while spending on the team's promotion. The mission and vision statements of the team clearly signify the power and confidence this side will exude. After all, they are the King's men!

The Chennai Super Kings created history of sorts when they outbid competitors to have Mahendra Singh Dhoni in their ranks. The highest paid star of the league will also fulfill skipper duties for the team. Owned by India Cements, the franchise has added star value in former cricketer Kris Srikkanth and South Indian actors Vijay and Nayantar appointed as brand ambassadors. The MA Chidambaram Stadium will be the home ground.

Coached by former South African cricketer Kepler Wessels, the team makes up for the absence of an Icon Player by having stalwarts like Matthew Hayden, Stephen Fleming, Michael Hussey, Jacob Oram, Makhaya Ntini and Muttiah Muralidharan lending their participation to the Super Kings. The team's name was chosen as a tribute to the rulers of the golden era of Tamil culture.

The Pink City of Jaipur is represented by the Rajasthan Royals. At first glance, this team will appear as the underdog. But beware, it is the only team to have a player who will also coach the team. And it is none other than the spin wizard from Down Under - Shane Warne. Warne is also the only non-Indian cricketer to lead a side in the IPL.

The team may not have an Icon Player but it manages a roll call of some of the finest talent in cricket. India's Mohammad Kaif and Munaf Patel will rub shoulders with the likes of Graeme Smith, Justin Langer and Younus Khan. Owned by the Emerging Media Group, the Royals will also field many of India's young guns. The team logo has a lion citing the power of the Royals and the war horn which denotes a war cry. The team will reflect Rajput values of courage and valour.