IPL 10, Match 17, RCB v RPS - Rising Pune Supergiant Player Ratings

Rising Pune Supergiant and the Royal Challengers Bangalore were the two teams with similar issues. Both teams had only one moment of joy before coming into their encounter in Bengaluru. RCB fancied their chances in the match considering the home advantage that they would have got. On the other hand, RPS were also keen on getting back to winning ways after having lost 3 games in a row.

Coming into the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore won the toss and opted to field first. RPS got off to a flying start with Rahul Tripathi and Ajinkya Rahane getting a good start. However, both batsmen perished in quick succession and there seemed to be a sudden downfall. MS Dhoni and Steve Smith got identical scores but their departure saw the scores dwindle from 127/2 to 130/7.

It was a late 11-ball 27 run from Manoj Tiwary saw Rising Pune Supergiant finish with 161/8 in their 20 overs. In the run chase, none of the RCB batsmen could get going. They all struggled on the day as RPS bowlers put a stranglehold on the RCB batsmen. Eventually, RCB fell short by 27 runs in the match. Here are the Player Ratings of the Rising Pune Supergiant from the match:

Ajinkya Rahane – 6/10

Veteran Indian batsman Ajinkya Rahane has been in supreme form this season. If there has been a batsman who has constantly scored runs for Rising Pune Supergiant in the season thus far, then it has to be Ajinkya Rahane. Barring one odd failure, he has always got starts.

He got a good decent start today as well. He scored 30 runs off just 25 balls at the start of the innings. He hit 5 fours during his knock and was the key to setting up a foundation for the RPS score in the game. He stitched a 63 run stand with Rahul Tripathi for the opening wicket.

Rahul Tripathi – 6.5/10

Rahul Tripathi has arguably been the most impressive young batsman of the season thus far. Tripathi added 63 runs with Ajinkya Rahane at the top order today. When you have someone of Ajinkya Rahane’s class at the other end, things can get intimidating for any youngster. However, he managed to outshine Rahane on the day.

He scored a brisk 31 off just 23 balls with 3 fours and a six to his name. He looked absolutely brilliant with the bat. The RPS side will feel that they have their top order sorted for the tournament.

Steve Smith – 5/10

Skipper Steve Smith has got just 5 rating points for the fact that he could have shouldered more responsibility with the bat today. He got set and then threw his wicket away when the team needed an onslaught. Smith was spot on with his captaincy though. He got his bowlers shuffled in the ideal way possible on the day.

Earlier in the match, he had come in at number 3 to bat. He largely found it tough to get the middle of his blade. He scored 27 off 24 balls before being bowled by Sreenath Arvind in the 17th over. He should have stayed at the crease for long.

MS Dhoni – 8/10

Just like Steve Smith, even MS Dhoni deserved a low rating of 5 in the match. However, it was his superlative effort in the field that earns him three extra points. He proved why he is regarded as the master class when it comes to wicket keeping. Dhoni inflicted a powerful stumping in the match. He caught AB de Villiers off guard by stumping him off the bowling of Imran Tahir.

Earlier in the day, Dhoni was promoted up the order at number 4. He responded well by hitting a long six that ended up on the roof of the Chinnaswamy Stadium. He ended up scoring 28 off 25 balls with 3 fours and a six to his name.

Ben Stokes – 9/10

Ben Stokes was named the Man of the Match in the match between RPS and RCB. Albeit Stokes had a very quiet outing with the bat, he covered up for it with his bowling. He came in to bat at number 5 in the batting order. He was cleaned up by Adam Milne after the English batsman lasted just 3 balls.

With the ball, he had a very impressive showing. He dismissed the big man of the Royal Challengers Bangalore line-up, Virat Kohli. He then got through the defences of Shane Watson. Lastly, he dismissed Adam Milne to complete his triple for the day. He returned with figures of 3/18 in his 4 overs.

Manoj Tiwary – 8/10

It was Manoj Tiwary’s late flourish in the match that saw Rising Pune Supergiant post a respectable total on the board. RPS were struggling with 130/7 on the board when Manoj Tiwary took things into his hands. His little cameo provided the much-needed impetus to the RPS innings as they moved towards the run defence in the second innings.

In his quick cameo, he faced just 11 balls and scored 27 runs with the bat. He hit 3 fours and 2 sixes during his stay at the crease and was dismissed on the very last ball of the innings.

Dan Christian – 3/10

Dan Christian had a very disappointing time with the bat today. He scored only 1 run on the day. With the ball, he did a reasonably decent job. He bowled his full quota of 4 overs with the ball. He gave away 26 runs but failed to pick up a wicket.  Whether he retains his place in the side or not, will be interesting to see in the coming matches.

Shardul Thakur – 8/10

Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur had been asking for chances last year when he was associated with the Kings XI Punjab. This year, he got his fair share of chances and he took them with both hands. Shardul Thakur bowled with sheer aggression and got wickets early on in the innings.

He dismissed Mandeep Singh in the very first over of the match. He then backed up his good show with another couple of wickets towards the end overs. By the end of the game, he had powerful numbers backing his good show with the bat. Thakur returned with figures of 3/35 to his name.

Jaydev Unadkat – 8/10

Jaydev Unadkat got his first opportunity to play on the day. He took the opportunity with both hands and made sure he did the work in fine fashion. Unadkat bowled with the new ball and was taken away for runs early on in the innings. However, when he was introduced during the middle overs, he got the key wicket of Kedar Jadhav.

He got through the defences of Jadhav to give an early blow to the Royal Challengers. Towards the end overs, he bagged another wicket as he cleaned up Samuel Badree on the very first ball. In the four overs that he bowled, he gave away 25 runs and picked up 2 wickets.

Rahul Chahar – 2/10

Rahul Chahar had very little work to do in the match today. The young leg spinner did not get a single over to bowl on the day. In the previous few matches, he had shown that he can be a wicket taking the option. However, that would have come at an expense of some runs. With not many runs to play with on the day, Rising Pune Supergiant skipper chose not to bowl Rahul Chahar.