The two worst sides in the Indian Premier League campaign so far collide in the second game of the Good Friday double header when the Gujarat Lions host the Rising Pune Supergiant in what is a big match for both sides.
The Gujarat Lions have taken two brutal beatings so far in the tournament while the Rising Pune Supergiant have deteriorated after an opening win so there is a real need to win for both teams in this one.
Gujarat Lions
We don’t have to look too far for the root of the problems for the Gujarat Lions. They have only taken one wicket in two matches in the competition so far so they have to do something about their bowling attack. Stacking their team with overseas batsmen looks great but in reality it isn’t the way to go as we’ve seen.
Another area of concern for the Lions has been how they have batted against spin and when you think they are likely to come up against two of the best spinners in the competition in this match that is also something they are going to have to work on. They are in a losing slump which has carried over from last season and can’t seem to get out of it.
Rising Pune Supergiant
Pune won their opening match of the tournament although they were very fortunate to do that in a way because Mumbai dropped a couple of howlers which became expensive. Since then it has been a struggle for the Supergiant and they put in comfortably their worst performance of the competition so far last time out.
They have plenty to work on not least what they can produce at the end of an innings with the ball. They have been taken to the cleaners in all of their matches at the death and they will need to come up with better plans going forward in the competition. By and large though their batting has been ok apart from when scoreboard pressure got them against Delhi.
Team News
Gujarat Lions will be delighted to have Ravi Jadeja back and available for the first time this season although there will be a lot of pressure on him to fire from the start. James Faulkner or Andrew Tye looks set to play too.
Rising Pune will have their captain Steve Smith back for this match with Faf du Plessis seemingly the man to make way for him. Manoj Tiwary has also returned to the ranks as well and he is likely to start. Ashok Dinda should find himself on the sidelines.
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Betting
The team news and Jadeja’s return in particular seems to be moving the odds towards the Gujarat Lions for this match but I’m going the other way and backing the Rising Pune Supergiant.
I’m backing them because I don’t think they match up too badly to the Lions. We know that the Lions’ bowling has been atrocious and while Jadeja’s return should do something for that Pune have a left hander in Ben Stokes and a couple of very good players of spin to keep him quiet and then they can go mad at the other end.
On the flip side of that we’ve seen Gujarat’s batsmen fall in a heap to leg spin in this tournament so far. Rashid Khan returned figures of 3-19 against them and Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav combined for 3-58 from eight overs against them. Zampa and Tahir should be licking their lips bowling at this lot and their spell can be the difference.
Tips
Back Rising Pune Supergiant to beat Gujarat Lions for a 4/10 stake at 2.10 with William Hill
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