The debut season for the Rising Pune Supergiants never went to plan at any stage and after splashing out the biggest overseas auction fee in IPL history they will have to achieve much better things in IPL10. Another season of failure for the Pune side could have significant consequences which don’t bear thinking about so the pressure is on right from the beginning.
Stats
Last Season: 7th
Captain: Steve Smith
Key Players: Ajinkya Rahane & Ben Stokes
Best Odds: 7/1
Predicted Finishing Position: Group Stage
Fixtures
Thursday April 6 – Mumbai Indians (h)
Saturday April 8 – Kings XI Punjab (a)
Tuesday April 11 – De;hi Daredevils (h)
Friday April 14 – Gujarat Lions (a)
Sunday April 16 – Royal Challengers Bangalore (a)
Saturday April 22 – Sunrisers Hyderabad (h)
Monday April 24 – Mumbai Indians (a)
Wednesday April 26 – Kolkata Knight Riders (h)
Saturday April 29 – Royal Challengers Bangalore (h)
Monday May 1 – Gujarat Lions (h)
Wednesday May 3 – Kolkata Knight Riders (a)
Saturday May 6 – Sunrisers Hyderabad (a)
Friday May 12 – Delhi Daredevils (a)
Sunday May 14 – Kings XI Punjab (h)
Auction
Most expensive signing: Ben Stokes
Other notable signings: Manoj Tiwary, Dan Christian, Imran Tahir (signed after the auction)
Strengths
The strength of the Supergiants heading into the new season looks to be in their batting order even allowing for the fact that Kevin Pietersen isn’t playing this season. Ben Stokes is a big money signing and he fits into what looks to be a powerful middle order so if Ajinkya Rahane and Mayank Agarwal can lay the platforms this side should be capable of big totals.
Weaknesses
You would have to say that even the signing of Imran Tahir doesn’t make up for the loss of Ravi Ashwin with the ball. He is out for the season and it may be hard to get Tahir and Adam Zampa into the same side so the Indian bowlers will need to step up to the plate but they don’t look that good on paper. Definitely the weakness is with the ball.
Betting
You can make a good case for Ajinkya Rahane being backed to be the top score for Pune this season but the middle order is so powerful that if someone hits a purple patch that lasts a couple of weeks they could edge him so I’m looking at the bowling for a bet on the Supergiants.
I completely get why Adam Zampa and Imran Tahir are the favourites to be the top bowler for Pune this season but as I’ve mentioned above getting them both into the same side with Steve Smith and Ben Stokes guaranteed places won’t be easy. Instead I’m looking to Ben Stokes. He is the only natural death bowler in the side so he’s going to get a lot of cheap wickets and if he can bowl well in his first spell he’s likely to push whichever spinner Pune play throughout the season.
Tips
Back B.Stokes Top Rising Pune Supergiants Tournament Bowler for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 with Bet365
Back him here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2017
