IPL 10, Match 13, GL vs RPSG Preview: Deflated Gujarat Lions face struggling Supergiant

It’s match number 13 of the IPL 10 and the two teams languishing at the bottom half of the table are set to clash against each other. Gujarat Lions are scheduled to host the Rising Pune Supergiant at Rajkot. The Pune unit will be disappointed at the position they find themselves in after starting off in a desirable manner. Pune missed the services of their star batsmen and skipper in the last match against Delhi Daredevils, which they lost comprehensively.

He will return to the scheme of things after suffering from a stomach bug. The Pune batting line up has been found wanting without contribution from Steve Smith. They will receive a huge boost after the inclusion of the Aussie. The RPSG line-up would like to strengthen their batting and bowling by tying the loose ends up. Pune currently has lost two matches by huge margins and won only their first match against Mumbai.

Moreover, Gujarat Lions are yet to open their account in the points table and reduce their deficit in the net run-rate. It’s baffling to imagine a team with the likes of Roy, McCullum, Raina, Dwayne Smith and Finch, ending up at the bottom of the table. Having said that, it’s the inexperience in the bowling which has hurt the Rajkot-based team the most. The Lions bowling attack will be bolstered with the comeback of their star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Gujarat Lions will be hoping to reinforce their bowling and hope that the innings lasts the entire quota of 20 overs if bowling second.

Toss: Gujarat Lions have won the toss and have opted to field

Quotes from the toss:

Steve Smith: I would have probably bowled first as well; keeping with the trend. Now have to bat well. I am feeling much better. Went down for a couple of days, nice to be back and will try and contribute tonight. We have to learn from mistakes and keep doing well.

Suresh Raina: We want to bowl first. The wicket gets better and if you see the last two games we haven’t bowled well while bowling defend. We will try to bowl well and restrict them. We have changed four players. It was crucial to win the toss and hopefully, we will do well later on. He’s (Jadeja) done really well and he is playing today. He’s been bowling really and hitting it well. When Bravo comes back we will be sorted. Hopefully, he can be a match-winner for us.

Focus Will Be On

Steve Smith

Smudge, who scored a match-winning innings against the Mumbai Indians, would hope for some support from the likes of Rahane, Dhoni and Stokes from the other end. Also, no one apart from Tahir and presumably Zampa looks like making inroads into the batting line-up of the opposition. It will be interesting to see the changes he can enforce in the lineup, as death bowling has been a cause of concern for the team.

Ravindra Jadeja

The star of the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to make a comeback after enjoying a well-earned rest. What better place to make the comeback than his hometown at Rajkot. All eyes will be on the southpaw as both Raina and Gujarat Lions would require the services of the number 1 bowler in the world desperately. Also, with the inclusion of the all-rounder, the entire line-up of the Lions would appear well balanced.

Team Combination

Gujarat Lions

As mentioned before, GL would be looking to strengthen their bowling with the inclusion of Ravindra Jadeja and TNPL star Nathu Singh. Basil Thampi and Tejas Baroka might make way for the duo.

Rising Pune Supergiant

Du Plessis will have to make way for his captain Steve Smith. The rest of the line-up more or less would remain the same except for Ashoke Dinda who has been appalling in the death overs. Meanwhile, Unadkat, Ishwar Pandey and Shardul Thakur; all have equal chances to replace Dinda.

Playing XI:

Gujarat Lions: Brendon McCullum, Aaron Finch, Suresh Raina(c), Dwayne Smith, Dinesh Karthik(w) Ishan Kishan, Ravindra Jadeja, Andrew Tye, Praveen Kumar, Basil Thampi, Shadab Bashir Jakati

Rising Pune Supergiant: Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith(c), Manoj Tiwary, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni(w), Rahul Tripathi, Lockie Ferguson, Ankit Sharma, Rahul Chahar, Imran Tahir, Shardul Thakur

Stat Attack

150- Suresh Raina will become the first player to feature in 150 IPL games.

2-Dinesh Karthik needs to affect two more dismissals to became the first wicket-keeper with 100 dismissals in IPL.