Out and in - Season 4 is here

After a topsy turvy journey IPL 4 is almost ready to roll with all 10 teams. That sounds fair than having only 8 - I would love to see Shilpa and Preity going at it again. But the crap on the faces of the BCCI stooges delights me even more.
Also the queer 74 game format seems set for a longer duration with the confirmation that the next 3 seasons will have the same format.
Here is what it says

League phase
Every team will play the same number of league games (14, seven home and seven away) as in previous seasons with the following break-up: each team will play the other four in its group both home and away (eight matches), four of the teams in the other group once (four matches, either home or away) and the remaining team in the other group twice, both home and away. A random draw will decide the composition of the groups as well as who plays whom across the groups once and twice.
Playoffs
The teams that finish first and second in the league table will contest the first playoff, which is effectively a semi-final (Game A). The teams that finish third and fourth will play each other in a knockout that is effectively a quarter-final (Game B). The loser of Game A will play the winner of Game B in a match (Game C) that will decide the second finalist that will play the winner of Game A in the grand final.

The player retention has also thrown in a few surprises
While 3 teams (incuding DC) have decided to release everyone, MI have ensured that they might field the same team as in the previous seasons by retaining Sachin, Bhajji, Malinga and Pollard! CSK also seem to follow suit by retaining MSD, Raina, Morkel and Vijay. Surprisingly RCB have retained Kohli! RR have retained Warne and Watson while Delhi have stuck to Beeru. Personally, I was surprised to know DC let Gilly go. Hope he comes back to DC.
This time around we won't be seeing Ponting, Clarke, Hayden, Freddy, Johnson and of course the poor Pakistanis. I wish the angry PCB decides to start the Pakistani Premier League soon.

Awaiting Jan 8 and 9 - to witness yet another auction tamasha!