IPL 9 MS Dhoni and Co seek reversal of fortunes

On a downward spiral after suffering their fifth loss of the season, debutants Rising Pune Supergiants would look to plug the holes in bowling to get their campaign back on track when they face title-holders Mumbai Indians in an Indian Premier League match, here on Sunday.

Led by the talismanic Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Rising Pune Supergiants did not have the best of starts in their debut season, losing five of the seven matches they played so far.

The Pune outfit is presently languishing at the sixth spot in the eight-team standings with just four points, while their opponents for tomorrow’s game, Mumbai Indians, are lying third with eight points from as many games. With the business end of tournament nearing, time is running out fast for Pune to get a series of wins and return to the top four reckoning.

On Sunday, Rising would fancy their chances against Mumbai Indians having comfortably defeated them by nine wickets in the opening match of the tournament.

But it would be easier said than done as Dhoni faces the uphill task of selecting a balanced bowling combination which would deliver results for him.

The absence of its two main players in Faf du Plessis and Kevin Pietersen, who have been ruled out due to injuries, notwithstanding Pune’s batting unit has lived upto its reputation with Ajinkya Rahane, Steven Smith and Dhoni himself delivering the goods for the side. Pune’s batting would also be bolstered by the inclusion of Australian Usman Khwaja, who replaced Du Plessis in the squad.

Rahane has been among the runs scoring another half-century against Gujarat Lions, but going into Sunday’s game the most heartening fact for Pune would be Steven Smith’s 101 off just 54 balls yesterday in a losing cause. And that’s the reason why bowling is the biggest worry for Dhoni.

Despite putting up 195/3 on the board yesterday, Pune bowlers failed to defend the score against Gujarat Lions, losing the match by three wickets in a last ball finish. The likes of Albie Morkel, Ashok Dinda, Thissara Perera, and Ravichandran Ashwin all went for runs. Rajat Bhatia and young spinner M. Ashwin showed some restraint but what is hurting Pune the most is the poor form of Ashwin.