IPL: Time is running out for Dhoni's Supergiants

The Pune outfit is presently languishing at the sixth spot in the eight-team standings with just four points

Mumbai Indians are on a high with back-to-back victories over Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders

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, in Pune, 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 Sunday'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.

Rising Pune Supergiants 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, on Friday, in a losing cause.

And that's the reason why bowling is the biggest worry for Dhoni.

Despite putting up 195 for three on the board, 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 Murugan Ashwin showed some restraint but what is hurting Pune the most is the poor form of Ashwin.

On the other hand, Mumbai Indians are on a high with back-to-back victories over Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders in their last two games.

After a jittery start, the Rohit Sharma-led defending champions got their act together to move to the top half of the points table.

On the batting front, Rohit himself has shouldered the responsibility with steady knocks in the company of Ambati Rayudu.

But it is big-hitting Kieron Pollard, who has been the star for Mumbai in the last couple of matches. Pollard smashed a blistering unbeaten 51 off just 17 balls to power Mumbai Indians to a spectacular six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in their last match.

But the only concern for Rohit would be opening partnerships and the indifferent form of Jos Buttler in the middle.

The Pandya brothers, especially Krunal, is turning out to be a handy player for Mumbai both with the bat and ball.

On the bowling front, the New Zealand fast bowling duo of Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan has been doing the job for Mumbai upfront with Jasprit Bumrah providing them support in the middle overs.

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh too has performed well so far.

Teams (from):

Rising Pune Supergiants: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Kevin Pietersen, Faf du Plessis, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Jaskaran Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ankit Sharma, Albie Morkel, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma, Ishwar Pandey, Thisara Perera, Saurabh Tiwary, RP Singh, Rajat Bhatia, Ankush Bains, Baba Aparajith, Murugan Ashwin, Ashok Dinda, Deepak Chahar, Scott Boland, Peter Handscomb, Adam
Zampa.

Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (C), Parthiv Patel, Hardik Pandya, Jos Buttler, Mitchell McClenaghan, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Harbhajan Singh, Jagadeesha Suchith, Tim Southee, Jasprit Bumrah, Shreyas Gopal, R Vinay Kumar, Corey Anderson, Unmukht Chand, Marchant de Lange, Siddhesh Lad, Kishore Kamath, Krunal Pandya, Deepak Punia, Nitish Rana, Jitesh Sharma, Nathu Singh, Akshay Wakhare, Martin Guptill.

Match starts 8pm (IST)