They were arguably the most high profile team in the inaugural edition.
Chargers, seen as one of the pre-tournament favourites with explosive batsmen like Andrew Symonds, Shahid Afridi, Herschelle Gibbs and Adam Gilchrist in their ranks, managed just to win just two of their 14 games, ending the tournament with the proverbial wooden spoon.
The management was quick to react.
Last September, in what was widely regarded as the first sacking of the IPL, Deccan Chargers showed coach Robin Singh the door and removed VVS Laxman as captain.
The captaincy reins were handed to Gilchrist, a former Australia captain, while another former Australian Test player Darren Lehmann was made the new coach.
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"There was a lot of negative feeling around the team last year," said Lehmann, soon after his appointment.
"We are trying to turn it around and I want to gel the group to become closer and play a better brand of cricket than last season."
The 2004 Wisden Cricketer of the Year, who signed initially for three years, seems to have put the team back on track.
Deccan Chargers have won their first four matches in the second edition and are sitting pretty at the top of the table.
India vs New Zealand, 3rd Test: Match report | Scorecard | Schedule
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