New Delhi:
Rising Pune Supergiant and Royal Challengers Bangalore are set to clash on Saturday as both fight it out for survival in the Indian Premier League. The match is said to be held at the Maharasthra cricket association stadium, Pune.
Despite having some of the biggest names of international cricket in their ranks, RCB has struggled to do anything of repute in this season of the cricketing extravaganza.
Top notch players like captain Virat Kohli, South African great AB De Villiers, Englishman Tymal Mills and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson have failed to fire, thus increasing pressure on the lesser known mortals.
Some of the top buys from Indian domestic circuit such as Pawan Negi and Roger Binny too have been major disappointments. This has led to the team being placed on the 7th position on the table and they have only five points from 9 matches.
Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav and spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Samuel Badree have been the only positives for the 2016 IPL finalists. Chahal has taken ten wickets in the tournament thus far and is fifth in the race for the purple cap. On the other hand, Rising Pune Supergiant seems to have risen from the ashes after losing some of its first few matches.
They have won their last two matches against top ranked teams such as Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. Captain Steven Smith is in imperious form and receives adequate support from Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, India's former captain MS Dhoni and Manoj Tiwari. The bowling too seems to be in good hands as Ben Stokes, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Tahkur, Imran Tahir and Washington Sundar have delivered the goods as Pune roared back to form.
Pune has lost 4 games and won 4 to keep its points tally at 8 after playing as many matches.Overall, RCB has a better record against Pune as they have won two games against them while losing one.
However, in 2017, the momentum seems to be in Pune's favour.It's going to be a thrilling match as both the teams are filled with superstars and the match promises to be a fascinating encounter.
Probable XI: Rising Pune Supergiant
Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith (Capt), Faf du Plessis, Rahul Tripathi, MS Dhoni (wk), Manoj Tiwari, Ben Stokes, Jayadev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur, Imran Tahir, Washington Sundar
Probable XI: Royal Challengers Bangalore
Chris Gayle, AB De Villiers, Virat Kohli (Capt), Kedhar Jhadav (wk), Harpreet Singh, Sachin Baby, Pawan Negi, Sreenath Arvind, Yuzvendra Chahal, Samuel Badree, Adam Milne
