IPL 2016: Which side should YOU support? We assess the options...
If you like David Hasselhoff, there's only one way to go!
Thursday 21 April 2016 16:20, UK
The new IPL season gets underway this Saturday, live on Sky Sports, but who should get your backing?
With England internationals, stars of the World T20 and a whole host of other big-name players on show, there are any number of reasons you might choose to support a specific side.
So whether you're backing the boys from back home, embrace an underdog story or even if you're just a fan of The Hoff, we've got you covered...
MUMBAI INDIANS
You should support them because… Jos Buttler is playing
The England wicketkeeper has been in fine form for England over the winter and after a starring role in Eoin Morgan's side's run to the World T20 final, he will now head to Mumbai. The reigning IPL champions paid out £385,000 to secure Buttler's services and he will now join up with the likes of Rohit Sharma, Lasith Malinga and Kieron Pollard. Ricky Ponting is at the helm as the Indians look to defend their crown.
Captain: Rohit Sharma
Coach: Ricky Ponting
Best performance: Winners (2013, 2015)
2015 result: Winners
Top run scorer in 2015: Lendl Simmons (540)
Top wicket taker in 2015: Lasith Malinga (24)
ROYAL CHALLENGERS BANGALORE
You should support them because… their top four is awesome
With Chris Gayle, Virat Kohli, Shane Watson and AB de Villiers around, RCB must fancy their chances of winning a first IPL title after near misses in 2009 and 2011. Gayle, in particular, has enjoyed himself during his time with the Bangalore franchise, hitting a record-breaking 175 not out against Pune Warriors in 2013. Even if he doesn't fire, the chances are one of Kohli, Watson and De Villiers will.
Captain: Virat Kohli
Coach: Daniel Vettori
Best performance: Runners-up (2009, 2011)
2015 result: 3rd
Top run scorer in 2015: AB de Villiers (513)
Top wicket taker in 2015: Yuzvender Chahal (23)
DELHI DAREDEVILS
You should support them because… they are due some success
On paper, the Daredevils have a squad to match most in the competition but that has long been the case and yet, time and again, they have fallen. Having retained South African trio JP Duminy, Imran Tahir and Quinton de Kock, they have added another Protea Chris Morris, England's Sam Billings and a certain Carlos Brathwaite to their ranks. Could they finally live up to their promise in 2016?
Captain: Zaheer Khan
Coach: Paddy Upton
Best performance: 3rd (2012)
2015 result: 7th
Top run scorer in 2015: Shreyas Iyer (439)
Top wicket taker in 2015: Nathan Coulter-Nile/Imran Tahir (15)
KINGS XI PUNJAB
You should support them because… Mitchell Johnson's in their ranks
The left-arm quick may have retired from international cricket but you can still see him in action, steaming in to bowl for Kings XI. Punjab are led by a South African, in David Miller, but there is a strong Aussie influence with Glenn Maxwell, Shaun Marsh and Marcus Stoinis joining Johnson. They have also spent big to bring in seamer Mohit Sharma after a disappointing 2015.
Captain: David Miller
Coach: Sanjay Bangar
Best performance: Runners-up (2014)
2015 result: 8th
Top run scorer in 2015: David Miller (357)
Top wicket taker in 2015: Anureet Singh (15)
KOLKATA KNIGHT RIDERS
You should support them because… they make you think of The Hoff
And what better reason is there than that to pick a team? David Hasselhoff starred as Michael Knight in the 1980s televisual gem Knight Rider, with his character fighting crime with his artificially intelligent car KITT. Kolkata Knight Riders' 'kit' is a cracker, too - an excellent purple strip - and there are plenty of star names who will wear it, including West Indies all-rounder Andre Russell, Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan and New Zealand boundary hitter Colin Munro, as well as home favourites Gautam Gambhir, Yusuf Pathan and Robin Uthappa. There will be a legend in charge, too, with Jacques Kallis now head coach following Trevor Bayliss' switch to England.
Captain: Gautam Gambhir
Coach: Jacques Kallis
Best performance: Winners (2012, 2014)
2015 result: 5th
Top run scorer in 2015: Robin Uthappa (364)
Top wicket taker in 2015: Andre Russell (14)
SUNRISERS HYDERABAD
You should support them because… you can keep tabs on Eoin Morgan
Morgan will be gutted after his England side were pipped at the post by West Indies in the World T20 final but will get the chance to hit that out of his system over the next few weeks. Morgan scored one fifty in nine innings for Sunrisers in 2015, with captain David Warner and the mustachioed Shikhar Dhawan the main run getters. Those two remain this year and with Yuvraj Singh, Kane Williamson and Moises Henriques in tow, Morgan will have to quickly regain the form that deserted him during the World T20 to force his way into the side and stay there.
Captain: David Warner
Coach: Tom Moody
Best performance: 4th (2013)
2015 result: 6th
Top run scorer in 2015: David Warner (562)
Top wicket taker in 2015: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (18)
GUJARAT LIONS
You should support them because… they might do the Champion dance!
West Indies boogieing along to their 'Champion' tune was one of the most indelible images of the World T20 - and the architect of it, DJ aka Dwayne Bravo, is playing for new franchise Gujarat this time around. Bravo may do a jive if his famed slower balls come up trumps and with James Faulkner having been signed, too, Lions possess seamers with more tricks up their sleeves than Dynamo. Gujarat's batting also looks handy - Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum will provide some wallop up top, with Suresh Raina, who has played more matches and scored more runs than any other player in IPL history, offering class and composure in the middle.
Captain: Suresh Raina
Coach: Brad Hodge
Best performance: N/A
2015 result: N/A
Top run scorer in 2015: N/A
Top wicket taker in 2015: N/A
RISING PUNE SUPERGIANTS
You should support them because… of KP and MS
The IPL's second new franchise for 2016 are arguably even more power-packed than the first. Pune are skippered by MS Dhoni, who captained Chennai Super Kings to IPL glory in 2010 and 2011 as well as to the final on four other occasions, while exiled England batman Kevin Pietersen will be looking to build on fruitful recent T20 stints in the Big Bash and Ram Slam having joined his fifth IPL outfit. Sticking with initials, SS, MM and RA could also be key for Pune - Australia captain and batsman extraordinaire Steve Smith; his countryman, seam-bowling all-rounder Mitchell Marsh; and a master of the art of spin bowling, Ravichandran Ashwin.
Captain: MS Dhoni
Coach: Stephen Fleming
Best performance: N/A
2015 result: N/A
Top run scorer in 2015: N/A
Top wicket taker in 2015: N/A
