Even with so many millions of dollars running on IPL and with so many millions of crazy supporters, it is amusing to see how unimaginatively most of the teams are named.
It seems Deccan Chargers came up trumps with the name. Mumbai Indians too shows some traces of imagination.
For Deccan Chargers, it matches the initials of their flagship newspaper, the Deccan Chronicle (fondly called DC by Hyderabadis). The Mumbai team came up with a name that transcends the regional constraints of the city. It shows some spirit of nationalism. The presence of Sachin Tendulkar in the team is a straw for fans all over India to support the Mumbai team. And the name just gives one more reason for fans from other cities to support MI.
For Royal Challengers Bangalore, the name is an opportunity for advertising their beverage.
The team that is now barred - Kochi Tuskers - showed some imagination too with naming. They drew from one of the aspects of the region that is part of the identity of Kerala - the presence of elephants in droves in the region.
Pune tried to use the same logic as MI and appended India to the team's name.
But apart from the above, the naming is pedestrian and clearly not much thought has gone into it.
Kings XI Punjab ---------------- ????
Chennai Super Kings ---------- ????
Delhi Daredevils -----------????
Pune Warriors India -----------????
Kolkata Knight Riders -----------????
Rajasthan Royals ------------????
As can be expected, the teams did not try to be provincial or chauvinistic with their names. The Pune team could easily have been Maratha Warriors. Of course, they can't name it so as the team comprises of not only the local players but also other Indian players and a few foreigners as well.
While naming, the teams could have drawn from what forms the identity of the city - it's culture, geography, history, or any unique aspect. With so much support and so much money riding, they could certainly have done better!
