RPS vs KXIP, IPL 2016, Match 10 at Mohali: Likely XI for Rising Pune Supergiants

Given the Mohali track assists pacers, captain MS Dhoni might drop leggie Murugan Ashwin and play all-rounder Irfan Pathan instead.

Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) will take on the wounded Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) in Match 10 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 at Mohali’s IS Bindra Stadium. The newcomers RPS have played only 2 matches so far, emerging triumphant once. In their last match against the roaring Gujarat Lions (GL), RPS couldn’t win despite posting a competitive 164 runs on the scoreboard. RPS bowlers were taken to the cleaners by the belligerent duo of Aaron Finch and Brendon McCullum. Be it Ishant Sharma or Ravichandran Ashwin, none of the bowlers could come good and get their team over the line. Given the Mohali track assists pacers, captain MS Dhoni might drop leggie Murugan Ashwin and play all-rounder Irfan Pathan instead. Let’s have a look at the likely XI: LIVE CRICKET SCORECARD: Kings XI Punjab vs Rising Pune Supergiants, Match 10, IPL 2016

Top oder: Ajinkya Rahane and Faf du Plessis’ match-winning partnership of 56-ball 78 against Mumbai Indians (MI) was a perfect blend of class and power-hitting. If a team features such solid opening combination, it gets difficult for the opposition bowlers to make early inroads. While it was Rahane who anchored the innings in the first contest, du Plessis played key role posting a respectable total in the second match.

At No.3 comes class-apart Kevin Pietersen. He has been in an ominous touch in the shortest and fastest format for the past 1 year. With scores of 21 and 37 in the first two matches, Pietersen will be raring to go big against KXIP. Australian captain Steven Smith was in a decent form in the recently concluded ICC World T20 2016. In his only opportunity in this year’s IPL, he scored only 5 off 6 before he was dismissed by the in-form Ravindra Jadeja. With him batting at No.4, RPS’ top order looks deadly. IPL 2016 Schedule, Time Table, Fixture PDF Download

Middle order: Captain cool has been itching to bat up the order when he dons his national jersey. With him at coming in at No. 5, RPS’s batting line-up gets stronger and dangerous. In the game against GL, it was Dhoni’s rampage in the last over that helped the team post a 160-plus score.

Mitchell Marsh ‘s ability to use long handle to blasting effect will be more than handy in the later over. His 11-ball 7 in the previous does not speak volumes about his talent; however, a big score is due from him.

Bowlers: Given the Mohali track does not offer any turn to the spinners, Murugan Ashwin is likely to be dropped. Though he scalped 2 wickets in their previous match, he failed to keep a lid on the runs. Moreover, given Irfan Pathan played KXIP in the past and knows the track well, his experience with both bat and ball will be more that handy.

Pace duo RP Singh and Ishant Sharma have gone for plenty so far, but their knack of taking wickets in the batting Powerplay will arguably give them another go on Mohali’s bouncy track.

Rajat Bhatia has been providing impetus with his lethal off cutters and outfoxing the batsmen. Though he was smashed all over the park in the previous match, his outstanding performance (vs MI) of 10 for 1 in 4 overs impressed Dhoni.

Team India team spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been the cynosure of bowling attack for the past few months. He managed to scalp only 1 wicket so far and will be keen to make amends with his superlative bowling variations.

Rising Pune Supergiants’ likely XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, MS Dhoni (c & wk), Mitchell Marsh, Rajat Bhatia, Irfan Pathan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, RP Singh

(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @TheCricKnight.)

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