Two stuttering sides meet in the only match in the Indian Premier League on Friday when the Rising Pune Supergiants host the Royal Challengers Bangalore in a game neither can really afford to lose with the table beginning to take shape now.
Rising Pune Supergiants
The Supergiants began the tournament in fine shape with a comfortable win over the Mumbai Indians but since then they have suffered two fairly tame defeats and will be hoping that a first home match of the season can inspire them to get back to winning ways.
Their batting hasn’t been too bad this season so far although they have been a little too reliant on Faf du Plessis for comfort but their bowling hasn’t really got going apart from one really good performance in the opening game. That’s where the improvement needs to come.
Royal Challengers Bangalore
The opening three matches for Bangalore have been typical them in that they pile on the runs but they have nothing in their armoury to defend them. You would think for the remainder of this season winning the toss is vital for Virat Kohli and his men because unless Kohli and de Villiers go nuts again you just can’t see them defending any relatively normal total.
We know Bangalore will always score well but until they find the right combination with their bowlers they are going to struggle. If and when that combination is found they will become very dangerous in this tournament.
Team news
MS Dhoni rung the changes for the last match and you have to say it didn’t really work for them. Thisara Perera did little with the bat and was expensive with the ball so he could be left out. Albie Morkel is waiting in the wings and could be unleashed here.
Chris Gayle remains away after the birth of his daughter and now Samuel Badree has been ruled out of the tournament. Tabraiz Shamsi has been signed and if he is fit and acclimatised it would be a surprise if he doesn’t come into the side.
Form
Rising Pune Supergiants: WLL
Royal Challengers Bangalore: WLL
Head to head: First meeting
Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium
The ground in Pune isn’t a high scoring one traditionally. When the Pune Warriors were in existence they didn’t play many free flowing games on this ground and the last time we saw cricket here India only just made it to 100 and were convincingly beaten albeit five down at the time.
That said this Bangalore side can make any ground high scoring so maybe this will be an exception to the norm but you would be going against the grain in expecting a high scoring match here.
Betting
This is a tough match to bet on for a variety of reasons. Obviously the first is because this is the first match on the ground this season so we don’t truly know how the wicket is going to play although we can have a guess looking back in history.
The other reason why it is a tough match to bet on is because both sides are so out of form and as such both are likely to change their side once again. I think that is reflected in the prices where even bookmakers are struggling to split them.
I’m going to take the home side here though. They have good, experienced batsmen who can play and adjust to the conditions accordingly and I’m not sure Bangalore have as much of that. They are brute force and power attacking when it comes to batting and the other reason to like Rising Pune Supergiants is while their bowling attack isn’t the best it is light years ahead of Bangalore’s.
There may well be a few nerves around and a few points where this one gets a little edgy but when the pressure moments come I just fancy Pune to have a little more so I’m with them here.
Tips
Back Rising Pune Supergiants to beat Royal Challengers Bangalore for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with Titanbet
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