IPL 10: Steve Smith to play against Gujarat Lions

The Rising Pune Supergiant camp has received a major boost ahead of their clash against the Gujarat Lions. Supergiant will be playing their second away game of the season when they take on the Lions at Rajkot. Regular skipper Steve Smith is stated to be back in the team and that has come as a good news for the struggling unit. Smith had to miss out on the previous RPS game due to an upset stomach.

A tweet from an official from the BCCI and IPL Media and Communications confirmed the news. In his tweet, he remarked that during the Press Conference ahead of the game, Steve Smith confirmed his fitness for the match. “The @RPSupergiants captain has come to address the press conference and he says he has recovered. #Smithy #ipl  #GLvRPS,” read the tweet.

The @RPSupergiants captain has come to address the press conference and he says he has recovered. #Smithy #ipl #GLvRPS pic.twitter.com/9kT5AUiBnK

— Moulin (@Moulinparikh) April 13, 2017

The Supergiant will hope for their fortunes to change yet again with the skipper coming back. RPS had a dismal show in the previous edition of the tournament. This year, the owners changed the captaincy duties and passed on the baton from MS Dhoni to Steve Smith. They started off on a high when they beat the Mumbai Indians at Pune in their first match of the season.

Also, it was the skipper Smith who had scored a brilliant unbeaten 84 to guide the team home. However, the form of the RPS dwindled since that game. They played against the Kings XI Punjab at Indore and were badly beaten by them. In their most recent match, they were up against the Delhi Daredevils and were blown out by a century by Sanju Samson.

Incidentally, Smith had missed this match where RPS were bundled out for a paltry 108. With Smith back in the team, the camp will feel a lot more balance in their game against the Lions. Smith will likely replace Faf du Plessis in the lineup.