Published: May 09, 2016, 01:01 PM (IST)
Edited: May 10, 2016, 03:34 PM (IST)
Reeling at the bottom-half of the table, Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) have their task cut out against in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 40 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) on Tuesday at Hyderabad. MS Dhoni’s RPS have been struggling to get its combination right with lots of injuries scars adding to the team’s woes. In their last outing in Bengaluru, the team could not defend a total of 192 thanks to a well-compiled knock by skipper of Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) Virat Kohli. With MS Dhoni having a reputation for not making changes to his playing XI on a regular basis, here is a look at the probable team he may field against SRH. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Rising Pune Supergiants, IPL 2016, Match 22 at Hyderabad.
Top-order: The RPS top-order is not a big worry for their think-tank, especially with Ajinkya Rahane being in the top 5 run getters list. Usman Khawaja has got starts but is yet to convert it into a big score. Saurabh Tiwary has been holding on well and with Dhoni, coming at No. 4, they have a lot of firepower to outclass any opponent. It will be a good test for the likes of a relatively inexperienced Saurabh Tiwary against the quality bowling attack the Sunrisers possess.
Middle-order: Thisara Perera and George Bailey make up for a good middle-order pair where the latter can play the anchor role well, if required and Perera can go after the bowling from the word go. At No.7, they are likely to stick with Delhi all-rounder Rajat Bhatia, as he can come handy with the bat and is useful as a slow-medium pace bowler.
Bowlers: With RP Singh being the only bowler who looked in control with the ball against RCB, he is likely to get one more game alongside Ashok Dinda. Adam Zampa was expensive (4-0-35-2) but he did get the big wickets of KL Rahul and AB De Villiers and is sure to get one more game from Dhoni. If Murugan Ashwin regains fitness, he may make it to the playing XI as he has got wickets; however, the minimal usage of Ravichandran Ashwin by Dhoni may leave him out of the team. This can be a big move by Dhoni as he will definitely not try to pick three spinners in a pitch conducive to batsmen. But then, if Murugan and Zampa both play, RPS will end up playing two leg-spinners.
Rising Pune Supergiants’ likely XI against Sunrisers Hyderabad: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Ajinkya Rahane, Usman Khawaja, Saurabh Tiwary, Thisara Perera, George Bailey, Rajat Bhatia, Murugan Ashwin, Adam Zampa, RP Singh, Ashok Dinda.
