The second match in the Indian Premier League on Sunday comes from Pune as the Rising Pune Supergiants host the Mumbai Indians in a reverse of the opening match of the season.
This is the last match of the season in Pune so the home side won’t lack for motivation in this match but neither will the visitors having taken a pretty heavy beaten when the two sides met back in Mumbai earlier in the campaign.
Rising Pune Supergiants
Since that huge win over the Indians, Pune have won just one match in six matches and they have dropped off the sides chasing the playoffs as a result. In order to get back in the mix they will need to put together a solid run of wins and it probably needs to start here.
Pune’s batting has generally been fine this season despite their injuries but no matter how many times coach and captain criticise their bowlers in the media they just can’t seem to stem the flow of runs which is a massive issue for them.
Mumbai Indians
This season has mirrored many that have gone before for the reigning champions in that they have started slowly but there have been signs in recent times that they are starting to come to the boil again. They have latched on to the playoff chasing pack and are now expected to power past them.
Mumbai go into this match off the back of two wins in a row and whenever you win three or more matches on the trot in tournaments like this you are always going to make good headway. That is their challenge here.
Team news
Mitch Marsh missed out through injury in the last match and talking of injuries Kevin Pietersen and Faf du Plessis are done for the season now. Usman Khawaja has been signed by the franchise but it hasn’t yet been announced whether he is ready for action which suggests he may not be.
Mumbai Indians had concerns about Kieron Pollard but they disappeared with the blitz the West Indian produced to get them hope against Kolkata earlier in the week when he belted six after six in an insane spell so Mumbai are likely to be unchanged.
Form
Rising Pune Supergiants: WLLLLWL
Mumbai Indians: LWLLWLWW
Head to head: Rising Pune Supergiants 1-0 Mumbai Indians
In Pune: First meeting
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium
There was talk about the wicket playing iffy going into the tournament after the T20 International here between India and Sri Lanka earlier in the year but there was no need for those concerns because it has played brilliantly thus far.
Both sides scored over 190 in the last match on this ground and I’m expecting the big runs to continue to be piled up here especially on what isn’t the biggest ground in the competition by any means.
Betting
I’m going with just the one bet here and it is on Mumbai Indians. Pune’s batting didn’t miss Kevin Pietersen and Faf du Plessis last time out but there is only so many times someone will make a century to make up for those absences.
The thing is even if Pune do bat well in this match their bowling hasn’t shown anything since the opening match of the season and that is probably the biggest issue they’ve got to overcome going forward.
Mumbai took a while to click into gear but like they so often do they look to be improving game on game and with their big players starting to find some really hot form I expect them to continue to go from strength to strength and nail another important win here.
Tips
WON – Back Mumbai Indians to beat Rising Pune Supergiants for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Skybet
Back them here:
