IPL 2017: Rising Pune Supergiant v Gujarat Lions, Game 39– Match Result Predictions

Rising Pune Supergiant will be oozing with confidence when they meet Gujarat Lions in the 39th match of IPL 10 tomorrow at the MCA Stadium in Pune and will look to strengthen their position in the points table. They put up an inspiring performance against the Royal Challengers in the previous match and is now sitting at the 4th position in the points table with 5 wins from 9 matches.

They have made full use of their resources and despite not having a great bowling attack they have managed to put in some impressive performances in the season so far. To beat Mumbai Indians twice in the tournament who has been going great guns in the season so far shows their promise and they will look to win their 6th match come tomorrow.

MS Dhoni roared back to form with a match-winning innings against defending champions Hyderabad which will be a huge plus for SRH. Captain Steven Smith has looked in ominous touch but he will be eager to convert his starts into really big ones. Imran Tahir has been the pick of the Pune bowlers and has been a wicket-taking option for Smith.

On the other hand, Gujarat Lions will be disheartened by the fact that they lost in the super over against Mumbai. It was a sensational effort by GL bowlers to claw their way back into the match but it was the magic super over from Jasprit Bumrah which saved Mumbai from the blushes. They have some serious power hitters in their ranks and can decimate any bowling attack on their given day.

Brendon McCullum and Aaron Finch are sublime hitters of the ball and along with captain Suresh Raina, the trio can take any bowling attack to cleaners. They will be seriously jolted by the absence of Andrew Tye who has been ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. He has been a brilliant bowler in the season so far and bagged a hat-trick in his debut match.

They have some good bowlers in their ranks and youngster Basil Thampi has impressed one and all with his raw pace. He finished with impressive figures of 3/29 in 4 overs and was instrumental in holding MI down to a tie. Leg-spinner Ankit Soni had a productive day yesterday and will look to replicate his form tomorrow. So with nearly 24 hours to go for the 39th match of the tournament to commence let us have a look at the match predictions for tomorrow.

Here is what Crictracker predicts for the game:                   

Scenario 1: RPS will win the toss

Toss Prediction: RPS choose to bat

First innings prediction: 165-170

2nd innings Prediction: RPS will win by 5-8 runs

Scenario 2: GL will win the toss

Toss Prediction: GL choose to bat

First innings Prediction: 155-165

2nd innings Prediction: RPS will win by 4 wickets (with 3 balls to spare)

Head to Head Record

Overall: Total Matches –3, GL Won – 3, SRH Won – 0

Gujarat Lions have a clear edge on the head to head department against RPS winning all 3 matches so far. But given the two side’s current form RPS looks the favourites for tomorrow’s clash. Gujarat will definitely look for a win as one more loss might rule them out of the tournament.

Team Combinations

Rising Pune Supergiant

Shardul Thakur might replace Deepak Chahar and the rest of the team is expected to remain the same. They put up an inspiring performance against RCB and are unlikely to tinker with their winning combination. Manoj Tiwary’s inclusion was criticised early on but the veteran in the domestic circuit has defied his odds and has given momentum to their innings in the fag end.

If Ben Stokes get fit then he will definitely replace Dan Christian. The 14.5 crores man was slowly coming in to his groove before a shoulder injury ruled him out of the last two matches.

Predicted XI: Rahul Tripathi, Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith, MS Dhoni, Ben Stokes, Manoj Tiwary, Washington Sundar, Lockie Ferguson, Imran Tahir, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur

Gujarat Lions

Andrew Tye will miss the rest of the tournament after sustaining a shoulder injury and Dwayne Smith is expected to replace him. The rest of the XI is expected to remain the same. Irfan Pathan didn’t have a good outing the other day and if Nathu Singh is fit, he might replace him.

Predicted XI: Ishan Kishan, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina, Aaron Finch, Dinesh Karthik, Dwayne Smith, Ravindra Jadeja, James Faulkner, Irfan Pathan, Basil Thampi, Ankit Soni

Despite GL’s superior record against RPS in the head to head department, it will be a tough ask for them to upstage a resurgent Pune side in their home ground.