2008 Indian Premier League

The auctions for team ownership was held on January 24, 2008. Mumbai was the most expensive team, costing over 111.9 million. For the inaugural IPL season, each team had a salary cap of US$5 million (Rs. 20 crore approx.). Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Virender Sehwag were classified as icon players. They played for the franchises representing their home towns and hence did not enter the auction. Few players were classified as marquee players and the teams which lost out on icon players were allowed one extra marquee player to be selected in the auction. The first auction was conducted on 20 February 2008 with Mahendra Singh Dhoni winning the highest bid of US$1.5 million. Andrew Symonds was most expensive foreign player. A further second auction was held for few foreign players signed. Teams also signed players on individual basis. ==Venues==

Points in the group stage were awarded as follows: In the event of tied scores after both teams have faced their quota of overs, a bowl-out will determine the winner, even in the group stage. In the group stage, teams will be ranked on the following criteria: • Higher number of points • If equal, higher number of wins • If still equal, net run rate • If still equal, lower bowling strike rate • If still equal, result of head-to-head meeting. ==Teams and standings==

Points table :(C) = Eventual champion; (R) = Runner-up. Match summary ==League stage==

Matches ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- • Mumbai Indians 5 run outs in their innings is a record in the IPL ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ==Playoffs==

Semi-final 1 ---- Semi-final 2 Final ==Statistics==

Most runs The tournament's leading scorer wore an orange cap when fielding. :Full Table on ESPNcricinfo Most wickets The tournament's leading wicket taker wore a purple cap when fielding. :Full Table on ESPNcricinfo :Note: Economy rate acts as a tie-breaker if players are level for most wickets. == Controversies ==

Cheerleaders The IPL received criticism from a few politicians and feminists for bringing in foreign cheerleaders, which was seen by many to not be in the traditional spirit of the game, as well as being against some Indian sensibilities. Two cheerleaders from London were asked to leave the ground at Mohali "because of the colour of their skin" by Wizcraft International Entertainment, which handled the team Kings XI Punjab. Ellesha Newton and Sherinne Anderson, both from London and of African ancestry were allegedly barred from entering the stadium by employees of Wizcraft International Entertainment on the pretext that "people don't like dark girls here". Both girls alleged that an employee referred to them with the racial slur "nigger". The BCCI said a probe would be initiated by the IPL only if the two women officially complain to IPL commissioner Lalit Modi. The BCCI and IPL officials later expressed surprised that the two cheerleaders did not complain about the alleged racist behaviour while they were in India and spoke about it only after they returned to London. "We have not received any complaint from any cheerleaders that they were asked to leave by the Mohali-based Kings XI Punjab franchise recently because of the colour of their skin." BCCI joint secretary M. P. Pandove said in Mohali. Sreesanth and Harbhajan Singh altercation On 25 April 2008, following the Kings XI Punjab's victory over the Mumbai Indians at Mohali, Kings XI Punjab player Sreesanth was slapped under his eye by Harbhajan Singh, the stand-in captain of Mumbai Indians. The incident came to light as Sreesanth was caught by TV cameras sobbing inconsolably on the field before the presentation ceremony. Sreesanth had since downplayed the incident saying he had no complaints against Singh who was "like an elder brother" to him. Singh's team had lost their third consecutive match, and he apparently reacted violently to Sreesanth's approaching him and reportedly saying "hard luck". The footage of the slap has not yet been released for public viewing. The BCCI launched an investigation into the incident and decided to ban Singh for the remaining 11 matches of his season. ==References==