IPL 2016, RPS vs RCB: Today's Probable XI for Rising Pune Supergiants

Confirmed Rising Pune Supergiants (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane, Faf du Plessis, Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, MS Dhoni(w/c), Thisara Perera, Rajat Bhatia, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ankit Sharma, Ishant Sharma, Murugan Ashwin

Rising Pune Supergiants will welcome Royal Challengers Bangalore into the Maharashtra Cricket Association's International Stadium, aiming for their first win at their home ground. Both the teams got off to a winning start but since, have succumbed to back to back defeats. This now represents an opportunity for both to turn their fortunes around when they meet for the first time in the IPL 2016.

Pune, captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni got off to a promising start by defeating the defending champions Mumbai Indians in the first game of the season but post that win, things have turned sour in the Pune camp with back to back losses in the IPL, to Gujarat Lions and the Kings XI Punjab.

Dhoni and Co. will look to turn things around when his team will lock horns with the Royal Challengers. Let’s see how the Supergiants from Pune could possibly line up in this crunch tie.

Batsman:

The biggest strength of this outfit from Pune is their batting unit. Faf du Plessis and Ajinkya Rahane will open the batting for the Supergiants and there is no doubt about their batting calibre. While some muscle the ball away, these two prefer to caress the ball.

Kevin Pietersen is set to walk in at number three. The former England batsman can take any bowling attack to the cleaners on his day. When you consider the fact that Steve Smith and Dhoni walks in next,it’s safe to say no team in the IPL has a better middle order than the Supergiants.

Dhoni is admired as one of the best finishers in the game. Thus, there is no doubt that there is enough firepower in the Supergiants’ batting arsenal.

All Rounders:

The Supergiants roster has the likes of Mitchell Marsh, Thisara Perera, Irfan Pathan, and Rajat Bhatia. While they may not be the best all-rounders around but they do more than a decent job with both bat and bowl.

Rajat Bhatia has been around in the IPL from the very first season, and someone with his experience is an asset to any team. Meanwhile, Pathan's bowling is not what it used to be, but he can still chip in with a few meaningful overs in the middle. Marsh, a proper all-rounder can come in handy with both bat and bowl when required.

Bowlers:

Rising Pune Supergiants, bank mostly on their spinners R. Ashwin and Murugan Ashwin to deliver the goods. Murugan Ashwin called the ‘Other Ashwin’ before the start of the campaign playing his maiden IPL is already making a name for himself scalping 6 wickets in 3 matches. Meanwhile, there are absolutely no doubts over the bowling abilities of R. Ashwin.

This leg break and off break combination can put any batting to the test. Ankit Sharma, the left arm spinner can also come in handy. Ishant Sharma is likely to head the pace attack for the Supergiants and the lanky pacer from Delhi can cause a lot of problems to the star-studded RCB batting line up.

Final Playing XI: Faf du Plessis, Ajinkya Rahane, Kevin Pietersen, Steven Smith, MS Dhoni(C) (Wk), Mitchell Marsh, Irfan Pathan, R Ashwin, Rajat Bhatia, Murugan Ashwin, Ishant Sharma.