Group A

Former Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist leads current Indian Premier League champions Deccan Chargers

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Deccan Chargers (India)
Key player: Adam Gilchrist

Deccan will be one of the favourites for Champions League glory as they bid to add to their Indian Premier League crown. Skipper Adam Gilchrist has lost none of his class in retirement, smashing 495 runs to be player of the series in the second IPL and leads a star-studded batting line-up including VVS Laxman, Andrew Symonds and rising talent Rohit Sharma.

Trinidad & Tobago (West Indies)
Key player: Dwayne Bravo

The Stanford Twenty20 winners will do well to get out of their group, but with powerful all-rounder Dwayne Bravo in their ranks, they are capable of springing a surprise. Former West Indies leg-spinner Dave Mohammed will make a welcome return to the international spotlight after claiming 12 wickets at an average of just 5.25 in the Stanford series.

Somerset Sabres (England)
Key player: Craig Kieswetter

Although Marcus Trescothick will be the wicket most opposition teams will prize most, expect Craig Kieswetter to enhance his burgeoning reputation in India. The talented wicketkeeper forms part of a powerful batting order which also contains skipper Justin Langer – in his last hurrah with Somerset – and the talented James Hildreth.

Group B

In-form Australia paceman Brett Lee spearheads New South Wales' tilt at the inaugural Twenty20 Champions League

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New South Wales Blues (Australia)
Key player: Brett Lee

The Blues will be without Australia duo Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin due to injury, but they still boast eight players with international experience. An impressive bowling troop includes Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz. They can also call on rising talents Phil Hughes, David Warner and Portugal-born all-rounder Moises Henriques.

Diamond Eagles (South Africa)
Key player: Morne van Wyk

The South Africans are short on household names with only captain Boeta Dippenaar having played Twenty20 cricket for his country - and even then he has made one appearance. Wicketkeeper-batsman Morne van Wyk led the Eagles to second place in this year’s Standard Bank Pro20, smashing a tournament best 269 runs at the top of the order.

Sussex Sharks (England)
Key player: Luke Wright

The Sharks will rely on their all-rounders. Dwayne Smith was the star of their Twenty20 Cup success this year while Luke Wright has made himself an England regular. But it could be young India leg-spinner Piyush Chawla who plays the most significant role on the turning wickets of his homeland. Murray Goodwin is banned for his ICL links while England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has opted to rest.

Group C

Batsman Jacques Kallis has an immediate opportunity to make up for South Africa's poor showing in the Champions Trophy

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Royal Challengers Bangalore (India)
Key player: Jacques Kallis

Bangalore’s strength is in their mix of youth and experience. Skipper Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher have the know-how to allow the likes of Dale Steyn, Ross Taylor and Praveen Kumar a more gung-ho approach. The franchise chose to allow Victoria captain Cameron White to play for his home state and could face their hard-hitting contracted player in the second round.

Cape Cobras (South Africa)
Key player: Herschelle Gibbs

Although Graeme Smith is absent as he rests an elbow injury, the Cobras’ batting line-up is bolstered by the presence of South Africa team-mates JP Duminy and Herschelle Gibbs, who was released to play by Deccan. However, bowling options may be in short supply. Justin Ontong has only 37-year-old Claude Henderson for recognised slow bowling support, meaning Duminy may also be relied on for his gentle off-spin.

Otago Volts (New Zealand)
Key player: Brendon McCullum

The Volts were boosted when Brendon McCullum, their big-hitting wicketkeeper-batsman, shunned the chance to play for New South Wales after he helped them win the Twenty20 Big Bash in Australia. McCullum leads a contingent of five New Zealand internationals including brother Nathan, Neil Broom, Aaron Redmond and Ian Butler. England all-rounder Dimitri Mascarenhas is their overseas player.

Group D

Sri Lanka and Delhi Daredevils opener Tillakaratne Dilshan has broken new ground with his batting in Twenty20

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Delhi Daredevils (India)
Key player: Tillakaratne Dilshan

The Daredevils will be favourites to progress from arguably the toughest group in the tournament, aided by their pool games being played at their Feroz Shah Kotla home. Gautum Gambhir captains the team after Virender Sehwag stood down and that pair open a flexible batting line-up including Owais Shah and World Twenty20 player of the tournament Tillakaratne Dilshan.

Victoria Bushrangers (Australia)
Key player: Cameron White

The Bushrangers lost just once in claiming the first three Twenty20 Big Bash tournaments before losing in the final to New South Wales this year. They are without Dirk Nannes, who is contracted to group rivals Delhi, although captain Cameron White has been allowed to represent his home state by Bangalore. The Vics’ strength is in batting with White, Brad Hodge, David Hussey and Rob Quiney their leading lights.

Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka)
Key player: Ajantha Mendis

Wayamba boast a double spin threat in the form of Sri Lanka’s Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath. Mendis has baffled batsmen with his variations in his brief international career while slow left-armer Herath was equally as prolific in the recent series against Pakistan. Their batting is dependable with Mahela Jayawardene supported by captain Jehan Mubarak and Michael Vandoort.