Pune IPL team names MS Dhoni as the skipper

One among the two new IPL teams introduced for the 2016 IPL which was bought by the Goenka group has unveiled its names as the ‘Rising Pune Supergiant’. The franchise also announced that Indian limited overs skipper MS Dhoni will lead the team in the Vivo IPL 2016.

Pune had during the IPL draft picked MS Dhoni for 12.5Cr. Along with the wicketkeeper batsman they also drafted his former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) teammate’s Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and South African T20I skipper Faf du Plessis. Apart from these two the team also bought Australian skipper Steve Smith and Indian middle order batsman Ajinkya Rahane. Earlier this month Pune had also announced that MS Dhoni’s partner at CSK, Stephen Fleming will Coach this team as well.

After unveiling the team logo and announcing the captain of the team, owner Sanjiv Goenka was quoted by PTI saying, “I welcome Dhoni as the captain of Rising Pune Supergiants for the 2016 season.

“He has always been a phenomenal leader for teams that he has represented including the Indian side. His track record in both domestic and International arenas have been remarkable. I firmly believe he will lead our team extremely well on and off the field.”

“Practically we hope there will be complete harmony in the team. The likes of MS, Steve Smith and Faf du Plessis are seasoned leaders. I don’t think there will be any chance of a friction in the team,” he said.

Asked whether Australia’s Mr. Cricket Mike Hussey, another former CSK team staff, will also be on board, the chairman of Rising Pune Supergiants Sanjiv Goenka Group said: “This is not CSK. Just because someone was in CSK won’t mean that he will be here as well.”

“Just because we are a new team we don’t want to put out an excuse that’s we could not do this or that. We have to do what have to and we are confident of doing well.”

He also reiterated that former India captain and his ISL football franchise Atletico de Kolkata co-owner Sourav Ganguly has no role in the team. “Sourav has no involvement in the team. It’s for the Ombdusman to decide, why asking me,” he said on the reported Conflict of interest scanner on Ganguly.

They also named Raghu Iyer as the CEO for the team. “(Raghu) Iyer, previously, with Rajasthan Royals, will be joining as the CEO of the sports vertical of the group,” Goenka said.

With the way they are forming their team thus far RPSG will be a team to watch out for in IPL auction that will be held on February 6.

Do you know the Pune squad? – Analysis: Pune squad for IPL 2016