IPL: Pune restrict Punjab to 73

Saha was named Man of the Match. The match is a “virtual knockout” for both the teams as they aim to secure the final spot in the IPL play-offs.

After being put into bat by Steve Smith, the Punjab batsmen surrendered meekly, and were shot out for a paltry 73. RPS staged a remarkable turnaround but it loses three of their first four matches, but eventually, the team wins eight of their next nine games consecutively.

The contest will be keenly watched by Sunrisers Hyderabad, as the result will determine whether it plays qualifier 1 against Mumbai Indians or goes into the eliminators.

Mohit Sharma had defended 16 runs in the last over and Saha said the idea was to bowl him yorkers.

For RPS, it will be a challenge facing KXIP, whose campaign gained momentum during the business end of the tournament.

“We were searching a bit in the first few games”.

Teams: Rising Pune Supergiant: Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Steven Smith (captain), Manoj Tiwary, Ben Stokes, MS Dhoni (wk), Daniel Christian, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Jaydev Unadkat, Adam Zampa. For RPS they need to strive hard as a batting unit.

At 14.5 crore, he has repaid every penny that he has been paid so far.

Wriddhiman Saha – The wicket-keeper batsman played good innings of 93 not out against Mumbai Indians.

Another collective effort with the bat is what KXIP can overcome Pune at the MCA stadium and also the game is going to be superb. Bowling has been a positive sign for RPS. “The kind of consistency he showed, none of the other players could do that, an individual couldn’t take responsibility”.

Guptill started the innings slamming medium pacer Hardik Pandya for two fours in the very first over and then dispatching Sri Lankan Lasith Malinga for a flat six as the Kiwi right-hander looked set for a big innings.

With not much to chase, RPS came out with a concerted plan that Tripathi will do the hitting, while Rahane will play the sheet anchor role.

Sehwag said that captain Glenn Maxwell “didn’t perform for Kings XI Punjab”.

However, a defeat tonight against KKR might see KKR displacing them from the top.

Punjab Playing 11: 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Eoin Morgan, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Glenn Maxwell (capt), 5 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 6 Axar Patel, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Swapnil Singh, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Sandeep Sharma.