The initial season of the IPL featured eight franchises. Seven of these are familiar to fans of today, although the Delhi Daredevils have become the Capitals and the Kings XI Punjab are now the Punjab Kings.
The one exception is the Deccan Chargers, who would remain in the league until they had their licence terminated under controversial circumstances in 2012, and were replaced by the Sunrisers Hyderabad of the same city.
The Chargers finished bottom of the league in that inaugural season, with the top four teams progressing through to the semi-finals (the Playoffs came later) – the Rajasthan Royals, Punjab, the Chennai Super Kings and Delhi.
Rajasthan thrashed Delhi by 105 runs, and it was equally one-sided in the other contest, Chennai beating Punjab by nine wickets.
In the final, at the D.Y. Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai on 1 June, 2008, Shane Warne of Rajasthan won the toss and chose to field. Opener Parthiv Patel made 38 and Suresh Raina top-scored with 43, as Chennai set a challenging 163/5. With 3-22, Yusuf Pathan starred with the ball for Rajasthan.
Later that night, Pathan proved to be the hero of the hour. His 56 from 39 balls, including four sixes, helped Rajasthan get back on track after they lost early wickets. When he was dismissed in the 18th over, there were still 21 needed to win.
Warne and Sohail Tanvir – who would win the Purple cap that year as the leading bowler – kept their nerve. Tanvir scrambled a single off wide mid on to win the match. The Royals won by three wickets, and Pathan picked up the Player of the Match award.
It is, to date, the only time that the Royals have lifted the trophy.