[1][3] Sydney Sixers won the tournament, defeating Highveld Lions in the final.

[3][8] This qualifying stages included a team from Pakistan for the first time, with teams previously excluded due to friction between India and Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai attacks.

[9][10][11] Whilst in 2011 the fourth-ranked Indian Premier League team had played in the qualifying stage, this year's team, Mumbai Indians, qualified for the final stages as the defending champions.

[19][20] The organisers originally considered hosting the tournament at five venues across India,[3] but this was changed due to the possibility of monsoons and Durga Puja celebrations, with South Africa chosen to host matches.

[21] Four venues were chosen, SuperSport Park at Centurion, Kingsmead at Durban, New Wanderers Stadium at Johannesburg and Newlands at Cape Town.