Rising Pune Super
Giants picked up MS Dhoni in the auction and complemented him with specialist
batsmen and bowlers. In the auction, they successfully picked up brilliant seam
bowling all rounders and have constructed a well balanced and rounded team.
Under the pivotal leadership of Dhoni, this team will definitely be a force to
reckon in the tournament.
Gujarat Lions built a strong core in the draft by choosing 5 quality, proven match winners who walked into the first 11. This is a team with formidable stock of foreign players which would mean that two of out Aaron Finch, Dwayne Smith and Dale Steyn will have to warm the benches, as well as quality batsmen and all rounders, but lacks an experienced Indian bowler.
With all the excitement behind the introduction of two new franchises who replaced two major others RR and the most successful franchise ever CSK, here is looking at the best combination of players along with a few others who would make regular appearances in the IPL.
Rising Pune Super Giants Predicted Playing 11
1.Ajinka Rahane
One of the most
reliable Indian openers in this format, Rahane has done exceedingly well for
the Rajasthan Royals in the past. He is the perfect man to construct the
innings, and bat till the very end. The fact that he was picked up in the draft
makes him a regular player in this 11.
2.Kevin Pieterson (f)
A T20 specialist now,
Pieterson has been an asset to all his teams all over the world in the T20
leagues. His volatility and aggression make him the perfect partner to Ajinkya
Rahane, ensuring rapid starts, yet not losing the momentum. He is crucial for
Pune’s chances.
3.Steven Smith (f)
The Australian Captain
in all 3 formats now, Steven Smith has been a consistent run machine in all
formats in all conditions. His prior experience in the IPL and his profieciency
in the test format means that he can play both the aggressive and the waiting
game, making him a core member of the side.
4.Saurabh Tiwary
In a smart move by
Pune, Tiwary was snapped from the Delhi Daredevils recently. He has been a
proven performer in the IPL and in the T20 format with his big hitting
abilities and his multitude of experience. He is one of the better Indian
middle order batsman in this team
5.MS Dhoni (c/wk)
MS Dhoni is the single
most impactful player and match winner in this side. Not only will his
finishing abilities come to the fore, his leadership skills will be crucial. He
is the man with the midas touch with the gloves as well, and will become more
of a threat with the bat, batting a position higher.
6.Mitchell Marsh (f)
The young Australian
allrounder is an asset with both bat and ball, and has been the country's first
choice in all 3 formats. His monstrous hitting skills, as well as his
versatility to bowl in difficult situations make him the perfect seam bowling
allrounder to slot in at 6.
7. Albie Morkel (f)
A veteran in this
format, Morkel has always found himself as a core member of his IPL franchises
since its inception. This year will be no different. He is a true match winner,
with his ability to add 10-15 runs extra to his team’s total and open the
bowling.
8. Irfan Pathan
India’s seam bowling
all rounder that has fallen out of favour with the selectors, Irfan Pathan
still has the same swing characterised with his bowling, and can be an asset
with the ball with all his variations and skills. He is more than useful with
the bat as well, which elongates the batting order. One of the players to watch
out for.
9.R Ashwin
One of the best
spinners of the world presently, Ashwin is the only experienced spinner in Pune
and has to be on top of his game on favourable wickets. He will definitely
spearhead the bowling attack and his consistency will be crucial for Pune.
10.Ishant Sharma
India’s go to Test
Seamer, Ishant Sharma complements the seam heavy bowling department very well,
with his accuracy and hit the deck length. He will be a wicket taker in the
middle overs as well with the new ball and his success will decide the other
teams’ batting performances.
11.Ankit Sharma/ M
Ashwin
In need of another
spinner on these conditions, Pune will look to either of these to lend the
perfect balance to the team. Sharma may get the nod due to adaptability, IPL
experience and reliability, however Murugan Ashwin’s unorthodox style may add
to his favour and will make him lethal to the batsman who haven't had a measure
of him in the past.
Other Prospective Players that may feature often in the 11- Faf Du Plessis, RP Singh, M Ashwin, Rajat Bhatia and Thisara Perera
Gujarat Lions Predicted Playing 11
One of the two new franchises to replace the ousted CSK and
RR, Gujarat Lions built a strong core in the draft by choosing 5 quality,
proven match winners who walked into the first 11. Cric Tracker looks at the
best playing 11 that the Lions may adopt during a large chunk of the IPL. This
is a team with formidable stock of foreign players which would mean that two of
out Aaron Finch, Dwayne Smith and Dale Steyn will have to warm the benches, as
well as quality batsmen and all rounders, but lacks an experienced Indian
bowler.
1.
Aaron Finch/ Dwayne Smith (f)
The Lions suffer from a problem of plenty. Both Finch and
Smith have been known to give opposition bowlers headaches and are T20
specialists, Smith who has performed consistently in the IPL and Finch who has
held the tag for the No.1 T20I batsman in the world. Smith may get an edge
because of his IPL experience, bowling and outstanding fielding,.
2.
Brendon McCullum (f) (vc)
The recently retired Kiwi Captain was one of the first
players to be picked in the draft and will form an invaluable part of the
batting order with his fearless approach and tons of experience. His fielding
prowess makes a contribution from him in each game granted, and he can be a
brilliant helping hand to the inexperienced captain Suresh Raina with his on
field charisma and tactics.
3.
Suresh Raina (c)
The most consistent batsman in the IPL since its inception,
the stalwart has now been buoyed by captaincy. His form, scratcy since the
World Cup, will be under the scanner, but if he is on top of his game, Gujarat
will definitely be a force with the bat. His captaincy is crucial for their
success.
4.
Dinesh Karthik (wk)
Karthik is probably the best wicket keeper going around in
India aside from MS Dhoni. He is one of the leading run scorers in the IPL and
is one of the most proficient Indian players in the team. His batting abilities
will come to test in this position, but he has proven that he can play to this
role really well.
5.
Dwayne Bravo (f)
One of the most precious cog in the wheels of the line up,
Dwayne Bravo has delivered time and again with the ball at the death and has a
couple of purple caps also. However, his batting prowess is very profound also,
as he can tonk the ball very far, and play the waiting game also. His
impeccable fielding make him one of the most versatile players.
6.
James Faulkner (f)
Probably Australia’s best all
rounder in the limited overs format, Faulkner is incisive with both bat and
ball. He can bowl in the middle overs as well as deceive batsman at the death.
But it is his finishing prowess that gives the teams runs at a brisk pace at
the end that can decide the outcome of a match.
7.
Ravindra Jadeja
India’s most trusted spinning all rounder, Jadeja has been consistent with the ball with his accuracy and decent line and length. He is also the most experienced spinner in the team, and can be a force on turning wickets. He also has the ability to hit the ball well and provide an extra boost to the team’s total in the end.
8.
Praveen Kumar
Although he has fallen out of favour with the selectors,
Kumar remains one of the best Indian seam bowlers who can swing the new ball
vociferously. He has added more weapons in his armory, by brushing up his death
bowling skills and variations. He bowled the yorkers, slower balls and bouncers
at will in his brilliant performances for SRH last season.
9.
Dhawal Kulkarni
He has been in the selector’s radar for quite a while, and
is the perfect man to partner Praveen Kumar with the new ball with his knack of
swinging the ball both ways and picking up early wickets. His hit the deck
stuff and accuracy makes him a bowler who can stem the flow of runs in the
middle overs.
10. Pravin
Tambe
One of the finds of the IPL, this 44 year old leg spinner
has bamboozled the batsmen at will with his leg spin and variations that have
enabled him to bowl extremely economically and always be amongst the wickets.
The fact that he is relatively new will help in that batsmen won’t have any prior
experience of playing him.
11. Sarabjit
Ladda/ Shadab Jakati
By adding another spinner to their armory, Gujarat will have
3 spinners and 4 quality pacers in a perfect bowling attack. They may give
Jakati the edge because of his multitude of IPL experience with CSK and RCB,
but Ladda has been an upcoming leg spinner who has been consistent in First
Class and List A matches. Jakati’s miserly economy rate of 7.4 may bolster his
chances of getting selected.
Other Prospective Players that may feature often in the 11- Dale Steyn, Ishan Kishan, Shivil Kaushik and Pradeep Sangwan
