IPL 10, Match 17, RCB vs RPS – Rising Pune Supergiant Predicted XI

Rising Pune Supergiant have lost three games on a trot. After winning a thriller against Mumbai Indians in their first game of the campaign, they have been beaten comprehensively in the next three games. The ghosts of last year have come back to haunt this brilliant squad as they cannot find the winning formula.

They have struggled with the ball and each and every bowler seems to leak runs for them. With Ravichandran Ashwin injured and Ashoke Dinda failing miserably RPS look to find the right bowling combination. They play another struggling team Royal Challengers Bangalore and with Virat Kohli back they have a formidable batting lineup.

Tactics should be spot on if RPS wants to win this game as both the teams have the same amount of points. After thinking about the possible playing eleven for the away side RPS, we have finally come to a conclusion. So tactically thinking this will be our eleven that could win the game for RPS against RCB.

Openers (Rahane and Tripathi)

The opening pair has not done well at all for Pune and Ajinkya has not been the same after his 60 odd run innings in the first game. He has failed for three successive games and was out for a duck in the most recent encounter with Gujarat Lions. He needs to find his form as quick as possible so that RPS could feed off him and get the winning momentum they want. Tomorrow’s game would a right occasion for this classy batter to get going for RPS.

With Rahane Rahul Tripathi can be a perfect replacement for Agarwal. He comes from Pune and was pretty good against GL. Although he would be hating himself for not converting his start against GL into a fifty. He played extremely well for his 33 of 17 deliveries. A Ranchi-born Pune boy who has come through the age groups might just be a find of the tournament for India. With his classy strokes and ability to hit the big shots all around the ground, Tripathi might just get the nod ahead of Agarwal.

Middle Order (Smith, Stokes, and Dhoni)

The middle order keeps the innings in place and RPS have failed to do that more often. With Dhoni out of form and Smith not finding his mark and Stokes yet to make a mark, RPS are struggling with during the middle overs.

Steve Smith missed the game before Gujarat Lions but his comeback was not that great either. After the first victory over Mumbai where he played a stellar inning of 80 odd runs, Smith has been fairly quiet. The captain has not been leading from the front as his team is struggling to find the necessary form as well. Steve needs to regain his form and take RPS back on track in order to gain a top four birth.

The big money signing of Pune has been in good touch but has not been a match-winner yet. A fifty and a couple of good twenties is not worth INR 14 crores. The price tag is huge but the performances are not matching the tag so the man from England needs to pull up his socks and step up for his time. Stokes form might just help RPS get the wins they need and the game against RCB will be the right time to do it.

Dhoni is a finisher who is second to none but recently has been a shadow of himself. A man who is vocal while keeping the wickets is hardly heard talking and it is the same with his bat; quiet. The lion is still sleeping and needs to be shaken a bit. The game against RCB is a big one and if they lose that game the top four hopes for RPS might just end then and there. Dhoni is the man who can single-handedly win the match and it is about time he does that for RPS.

Lower Order (Tiwary and Bhatia)

Manoj is destructive and yet elegant batter who can bat anywhere in the lineup but he has batted for most of the campaign at number six and he would continue to do so. The Bengal captain played a good inning against KXIP and also against GL but it was not good enough. It is like the whole team has lost its form and the team management is struggling to find that inspiration. Manoj Tiwary can be that unlikely source of inspiration as he has the talent and the ability to do that. RCB and their small home ground can be the right occasion for this man to step up for his team.

Bhatia is a handy with his bat too but has not got a chance to showcase his batting skills yet but he can be a handy customer with the bat. He and his medium pace bowling will come handy against the mighty RCB as the team from Bangalore don’t like the pace of the ball. Ankit Sharma might not work against their batting lineup hence Bhatia and his slower deliveries would help RPS to keep the run-rate in check. His inclusion would be purely based on tactical reasons and so would be Ankit’s exclusion.

Bowlers (Ferguson, Tahir, Thakur, and Chahar)

Each and every team knows that RPS has a weakness when it comes to bowling and they have got the bowling combination wrong for each every game so far. Only Tahir has done well for them and the other three bowlers are yet to prove themselves.

Lockie Ferguson could not really make a stamp on the game against GL. The reason why he should be given a second chance is that he has got pace and the brains to keep the batters like Chris Gayle in check. A typical New Zealand bowler, Ferguson might be that missing link in the RPS bowling lineup.

Tahir who is in the race for the purple cap and by far the best bowler for RPS was bludgeoned apart by Gujarat batters. He could not help RPS the other day but that was just a hiccup in his superb run in the IPL. The 38-year-old South African and the number one T20 bowler might be the spark that would wake this team up.

Shardul Thakur has gone through a lot of criticism for not being the bowler for the limited overs cricket. And the Mumbai lad would want to answer the criticism with the ball and he got his chance against GL but could not really make a statement. This game against RCB might be his game and the chance he needs to make his mark as a good bowler.

This 17-year-old leg-spinner Rahul Chahar has been fantastic for RPS in the field and with the ball as well. He gave away 26 runs in his three overs but also saved a six and caught Smith on the boundary line. Rahul can be a handy customer with his leg spin and his fearless nature. He can be the player that would come as a surprise for RCB and might just be the trump card for RPS.