IPL 10: Gujarat Lions buoyed by returning Jadeja ahead of Supergiant tie

NEW DELHI: Two losses in two games, Gujarat Lions will be eager to open their account in the 2017 Vivo Indian Premier League. A returning Ravindra Jadeja, who was advised rest for the first two matches, will provide the side assistance when they take on Rising Pune Supergiant at the SCA stadium in Rajkot. Having finished an impressive No. 3 last season, the Lions’ have been dented early by consecutive losses and Jadeja, with a terrific home season with both ball and bat for India behind him, is ought to aid their dodgy campaign.
Like Gujarat, the Rising Pune Supergiant too are coming off a heavy defeat at the hands of Delhi Daredevils in a match that missed the services to skipper Steve Smith due to an upset stomach.The Pune skipper is back for this game and it is a proven fact that under him, Pune look a completely different side. Also returning to the fold is Manoj Tiwary, who missed the previous game due to the passing away of his father.
The Lions’ bowling will be in for a test. In two matches, the side has picked up just one wicket. In head-to-head matches, Gujarat Lions lead the Supergiant 2-0 but on current form, it will take the team quite some doing to extend that lead.
Venue: Saurashtra Cricket Academy Stadium, Rajkot
Date: April 14, 2017
Time: 20:00 IST
Weather: Hot and humid conditions with temperature in the late 30s and early 40s
Team News
Gujarat Lions:
Jadeja returning to the fold means either Shivil Kaushik or Tejas Baroka sits out. Kaushik, with his unusual Chinaman action has been taken for 69 runs without a wicket, while Baroka was expensive giving away 33 in 3.3 overs. Another concern is the lack of depth in their bowling. Gujarat Lions might just be tempted to play Andrew Tye and swap one of their top six.
Probable XI: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Suresh Raina (capt), 4 Aaron Finch/Andrew Tye, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Dwayne Smith, 7 Ravindra Jadeja 8 Dhawal Kulkarni, 8 Praveen Kumar, 10 Basil Thampi, 11 Shivil Kaushik
Rising Pune Supergiant
Expect the Supergiant to get back to their Playing XI that they fielded against Mumbai Indians and Kings XI Punjab. Steve Smith and Manoj Tiwary should in all likelihood replace Faf du Plessis and Rahul Tripathi. Opener Mayank Agarwal has struggled but dropping this early in the tournament is unlikely.
Probable XI: 1 Ajinkya Rahane, 2 Mayank Agarwal, 3 Steve Smith (capt), 4 Manoj Tiwary, 5 Ben Stokes, 6 MS Dhoni, 7 Rajat Bhatia, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 Adam Zampa, 10 Ashok Dinda, 11 Imran Tahir
Quotes:
I am not too sure if he is a good T20 player. He is a champion ODI player but when it comes to T20 cricket, in 10 years, he has got one fifty and that's not the best record: Sourav Ganguly on MS Dhoni.