RPS vs MI Match Prediction: Who will win the match between Rising Pune Supergiants and Mumbai Indians, IPL 2016, Match 29

It’s the all important Maharashtra derby at Pune where Rising Pune Supergiants square off against the Mumbai Indians in the second game of the Sunday doubleheader. The Supergiants, who will be playing their last game at Pune, have struggled big time in this tournament with their bowling deficiencies being exposed game after game. At times, their batters have come a cropper too and MS Dhoni will have plenty of thinking to do. It has now got to a stage where a couple of losses will surely kick the Supergiants out of the tournament.

They will be up against the defending champions, Mumbai Indians. The Indians have had a mixed bag of a tournament with 4 wins and 4 losses but they are surely getting some much-needed momentum after having won two matches on the trot. They would seek a hat trick of wins against a wounded Pune but they will know Pune will come hard at them. The Mumbai lads are looking extremely confident with every passing game and this could be ominous signs for Pune. Mumbai Indians start favourites for this tie.

Venue: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune

Match date: May 1, 2016

Match timings: 2000 hrs IST

If Rising Pune Supergiants bat first

Usman Khawaja should be drafted in straightaway to the side if he is available. Else it could be a good option to open with Peter Handscomb instead of Saurabh Tiwary. On the other end, the in-form Ajinkya Rahane will love to get a quick start as sometimes he does get bogged down a wee bit. Steve Smith on the back of a tremendous century will be looking for an encore. He paced his innings brilliantly against Gujarat and must have been dejected after all his hard work went in vain.

Dhoni with Thisara Perera will occupy the middle order and their job would be to provide the final thrust to the innings. Fancy Pune getting a solid start and getting around 45 runs in the powerplays. MS Dhoni would ideally want close to 60 runs in the last five overs and Dhoni himself will be the right man to throw caution to the winds hence he should make it a point to come after Steve Smith. Dhoni would need to inspire his troops who look just a bit deflated at the moment.

The problem of plenty has been the bowling for the Supergiants. We might see Albie Morkel making way for Irfan Pathan and Adam Zampa, the leg spinner, might get a game too. Also, it could be a good idea to play seamer Deepak Chahar since new ball bowling is something Pune would like to improve. In the middle, Zampa, if included, can keep it tight and bowl in tandem with R Ashwin. The spinners have to do the bulk of the bowling if the Mumbai top order gets stuck into their new ball bowlers.

If Mumbai Indians bat first

Expect an unchanged side for Mumbai. Things have started clicking well for them and they would love to keep going from strength to strength against Pune. The batting seems to be in safe hands with fine openers like Parthiv and Rohit. Rohit would love to anchor the innings with Parthiv going after the bowling from the start. Ambati Rayudu has been exceptional ever since he started coming in at no. 3. What really augurs well for Mumbai though, is the form of their star player Kieron Pollard.

Pollard was simply brutal in the game against KKR, notching up his 50 in just 17 balls. It was the kind of knock that lifted the spirits of Mumbai in a big way and also reminded the other sides of his hitting prowess. Jos Buttler would love to contribute more with the bat as he is a top class talent. The fielding was sloppy in the last game and Jonty Rhodes will be egging the boys on to do better.

The bowling looks stable with the Kiwi duo Mitchell McClenaghan and Tim Southee bowling brilliantly at the top. McClenaghan holds the purple cap currently and that speaks volumes of his contribution to his franchise this season. Jasprit Bumrah has blown hot and cold but one can expect him to pick a couple of wickets at Pune. Harbhajan bowled better in the previous game and he is slowly but surely coming into his own. Steve Smith vs Mitchell McClenaghan promises to be a great battle and McClenaghan will try to trap a shuffling Smith in front of the wickets with his inswinger. If Smith and Rahane get out cheaply, it could be yet another tough day at the office for the Supergiants.

Probable Winners: Mumbai Indians