IPL 2016: RPS vs MI Playing 11 – Today's Probable Playing 11 for Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians

Rising Pune Supergiants go head to head against the Mumbai Indians at Maharashtra Cricket Association's International Stadium, Pune. Mumbai, the defending champions will travel to Pune to avenge their defeat in the first Maharastra Derby in the opening game of this IPL. Mumbai will visit the Supergiants on the back of two consecutive victories whereas Pune who had managed to win only two games in this IPL will look to complete the double over Mumbai Indians.

Mumbai Indians, the defending champions faced off with the Rising Pune Supergiants, debutants in the IPL in the opening game of the season. The Supergiants outplayed the outfit from Mumbai, restricting them to a score of only 121 in their 20 overs. Mumbai owed it to Harbhajan Singh, the off-spinner who can be handy with the bat scored 45 runs to see Mumbai cross the 120 mark as the top order failed to score runs for Mumbai. Pune achieved the paltry target of 122 under 15 overs losing only a single wicket. Ajinkya Rahane played a brilliant knock of 66 and stayed not out to see the chasing side home. The Pune fans will hope for a similar performance from the Supergiants and Mumbai will look to continue their good form and get a hat-trick of wins.

Let’s see how RSP and MI could line up for this Maharastra Derby

Rising Pune Supergiants

Batsmen: Faf du Plessi,s who used to open the bat along with Ajinkya Rahane has been ruled out of the IPL due to injury and Usman Khawaja the southpaw from Australia is set to replace the South African, but he won’t be up for selection for the Mumbai game. It is likely Saurabh Tiwary will partner Rahane up top. Steve Smith is in great form, he scored an unbeaten 46 against the Sunrisers and then followed it up with a century against the Gujarat Lions, so the Pune fans will hope for the same from the Australian captain against the Mumbai Indians. Peter Handscomd another Aussie who started in the game against the Lions but didn’t get a chance to face a ball is likely to start against Mumbai too. MS Dhoni, arguably one of the best finishers of the game will come to bat at number 5.

All-Rounders: Thisara Perera, the Lankan is almost certain to start for Pune and has been a hit with the ball picking up 8 wickets and has been handy with the bat towards the end. Albie Morkel was preferred ahead of Mitch Marsh against the Gujarat Lions and he proved to be very expensive with ball so Marsh might replace him in the starting line up for this game. Rajat Bhatia, has been regular in the IPL from season 1 and proved very useful with ball and might make the cut in the playing 11.

Bowlers: The off-spin and leg-spin combination of the two Ashwin’s, Ravinchandran and Murugan has delivered the goods in each game for the Supergiants and they will lead their bowling attack. Ashok Dinda, had impressed in the last two games picking 5 wickets and the veteran pacer from Bengal will start of with the new ball for Pune.

Probable Playing 11: Ajinkya Rahane, Saurabh Tiwary, Steve Smith, Peter Handscomb, MS Dhoni (C) (wk), Mitchell Marsh, Thisara Perera, Rajat Bhatia, R. Ashwin, Ashok Dinda, M. Ashwin.

Mumbai Indians

Batsmen: Parthiv Patel and Rohit Sharma is likely to open the batting for Mumbai, while Rohit is in very good form and played a brilliant innings against the Kolkata Knight Riders in the last game. Parthiv, missed out in the previous game, but played a brilliant knock of 81 against the Kings XI and both of them will look to continue with their good form. Ambati Rayudu, has been a regular part of the Mumbai Indians and will come in at number 3 and has been among the runs scoring 249 runs this season. Jos Butler, the English wicket keeper batsman is reliable with the bat and has scored runs for his team whenever he has got the opportunity and can hit the cricket ball really long.

All-Rounders: Kieron Pollard was in devastating form against the Knight Riders as he scored 51 runs from just 17 balls tearing the Knight bowling attack apart hitting half a dozen sixes. The Pandya brothers Krunal and Hardik are the other two all-rounders likely to start for Mumbai. Hardik has been a regular in this Mumbai side since last season and has started each game this season. His brother Krunal, who came into the side for Mumbai’s third game and has consolidated his place in the side. Mumbai fans will hope Pollard will again come up with the goods against Pune cause the Calypso giant can take the game away from any opponent on his day just like he did against Kolkata.

Bowlers: The Kiwi pair of Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan will lead the bowling attack for Mumbai. McClenaghan, with 12 wickets lead the race for the purple cap, made sure that Lasith Malinga is not missed by the Wankhede faithfuls. His counterpart and partner in crime Southee has also picked up 7 wickets and has been impressive with the ball. Jasprit Bumrah has also picked up 8 wickets and the Mumbai pace attack of Bumrah, Southee and McCleanaghan has wreaked havoc over every batting side. Harbhajan Singh, the veteran Indian off-spinner is an experienced soldier of many battles and has been part of the Mumbai Indians since 2008, the inaugural year of the IPL. So a bowler with his experience is an asset to the Mumbai side.

Probable Playing 11: Rohit Sharma (C), Parthiv Patel (wk),Ambati Rayudu, Jos Buttler, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Harbhajan Singh, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee, Jasprit Bumrah.