Highlights IPL 2017 RPS vs MI, cricket scores and updates: Smith, Dhoni guide Pune to 7-wicket win

The last time Steve Smith batted on this ground, he scored a scarcely believable 100 in the second innings of a Test match dominated by the bowlers to win his side the game. This time the pitch was different, but the result was the same. Another standout knock, another win for his team. Smith’s innings was a masterclass in pacing an innings; patient at the start, and belligerent towards the end.  

The win means that RPS get their first win in Pune, and their new acquisition Stokes has provided some balance to the team. But the latecomer Tahir and old hand Rahane were the other stars on the night.

Steve Smith is the Man of the Match for his scintillating innings of 84 off 54 balls. Does so on captaincy debut in the league!

Some jitters there at the end but it was always Pune’s game to lose after that platform from Rahane and Smith, and Mumbai looking one bowler short. Dropped catches are a constant comic relief in IPL where the fielding standards regularly swing between outstanding and ordinary. That Dhoni drop in the nineteenth over could have deflated Mumbai Indians spirit at the end. It’s incredible how batsmen back themselves to clear the fence in the final over these days. There was a time when two sixes in the final over would count as a miracle but here we were expecting either Dhoni or Smith would connect one soon.
 

Pune did more things right in this game right from team selection to pacing their chase and were the deserving winners. Pune had won their first game in the last season as well only to follow it up with a dismal season. They look a more confident team this time round though and will look to string a series of wins from here and stake early claim at a playoff spot.

This is the first win for RPS at Pune from five matches in IPL. 

Highest targets successfully chased by teams against Mumbai Indians in IPL:

185 by RPS at PUNE in 2017*

184 by CSK at Mumbai in 2015

183 by KTK at Mumbai in 2011

177 by DD at Delhi in 2008

After 20 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 187/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 84 , MS Dhoni (W) 12)

Pollard to bowl the last over (seriously, Rohit?). Dhoni uproots the stump at the non-striker’s end with a pull in the first delivery, getting only a single. Just a single in the second ball as well, as Smith only sends it to the fielder at back of square. Single off the third over as well, and suddenly the excitement is back in the game. SIX! That was the one big hit that Pune needed, and it is Smith who does it for the hosts! Clears the slower ball over long-on! SIX! That’s it! Smith it is who does the finishing job for Pune, and he does so in style with a big hit over midwicket! 

Rising Pune Supergiant win their first game on home soil by seven wickets!

Most runs in maiden innings as a captain for a team in IPL:

71* – STEVE SMITH (RPS)*

64 – Aaron Finch (PW)

55 – Murali Vijay (KXIP)

54 – Adam Gilchrist (DC)

49* – Suresh Raina (CSK)

After 19 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 172/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 71 , MS Dhoni (W) 10)

Bumrah into his last over, and given his death-bowling skills, Rohit might be hoping for a miracle now. Unsuccessful appeal for caught-behind in the third ball of the over after a couple of singles, which is then followed by another swing-and-miss. Just when the pressure seemed to be returning into the Pune camp, Dhoni smashed a back-of-length delivery towards back of square with a powerful pull for a boundary. DROPPED! Dhoni smashes the last ball towards midwicket, straight into Southee’s hands, only for the ball to somehow pop out and fall to the grass! There was your miracle Mumbai, and you just let go of it! 

Pune need 13 off 6 balls.

After 18 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 165/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 70 , MS Dhoni (W) 4)

In a now-or-never over for Mumbai, McClenaghan ends up conceding 7. Dhoni heaves the second ball towards the leg side for a single. The Kiwi pacer then follows it up with a bouncer in the third delivery that somehow is not called a wide. Couple of singles exchanged between Smith and Dhoni, with the former smashing the last ball towards wide long-off for a boundary, reaching out for the shot from well outside off. Pune nearly there now. End of Mitch M’s quota of overs. 

Pune need 20 off 12 balls.

Mumbai Indians still looking a spinner short but they managed to get IPL’s most expensive player ever without giving away much. The Pune crowd didn’t mind that wicket though as they started chanting Dhoni-Dhoni as soon as the wicket fell. No amount of money can buy you that kind of adulation. Dhoni will be looking to run hard and give Smith the strike who looks in supreme touch now. If these two stay till the end then Mumbai have no hope of winning this one.

After 17 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 158/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 65 , MS Dhoni (W) 2)

Slower ball by Bumrah to start off his third over of the innings. Couple of singles to start the over, with the 150 coming up for the hosts. Smith ends the over with a stylish late cut that carries to the third man boundary after waving McClenaghan goodbye along the way. 

Pune need 27 off 18 balls.

After 16 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 148/3 ( Steven Smith (C) 56 , MS Dhoni (W) 1)

FOUR! Stokes now picking the gaps with remarkable ease, hammering the first ball towards cow-corner. He fails to connect from the meat of the bat two deliveries later, and sends the ball straight into Southee’s palms at deep midwicket. Dhoni walks out to play his first IPL innings as a regular member of the team. Nine runs and a wicket off the over. Maybe another wicket, and Mumbai might rekindle their hopes of a win. 

Pune need 37 off 24 balls.

Ambati Rayudu is stretchered off the field at the moment. Looks serious. More information to follow on that.

OUT! Hardik Pandya gets the wicket of Ben Stokes to bring some balance into the game! The all-rounder looked to smash the off-cutter towards midwicket, but did not quite get the elevation in his loft!

Cheers of ‘Dhoni! Dhoni’ echo around the stadium as the former Pune skipper walks out to join the current leader, and the fans will now obviously want him to finish the game as he always does. 

Ben Stokes c Southee b Hardik 21(14)

After 15 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 139/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 52 , Ben Stokes 17)

FOUR! Southee from the other end, and Stokes smokes the first ball through extra-cover for his second boundary. Smith gets to his half-century in the third ball of the over with a double, bringing up the milestone in 37 deliveries in his debut match as the captain of an IPL team. Southee goes for 10 in this over, and the visitors seem to be losing the plot now. 

Pune need 46 off 30 balls.

Steve Smith at his unorthodox best while peppering that leg side field. The party with the bat continues for him on this tour. Mumbai Indians have been guilty of bowling the wrong lines to him. Anything short on his legs with no protection at fine leg is a guaranteed boundary. Mumbai Indians seriously missing a wicket taking bowler in the middle. Goes to show the value of someone like Tahir in the team, a bowler who makes things happen.

FIFTY for Steve Smith! He has played a captain’s innings so far, and will now look to guide his team all the way! Has been a masterclass of an innings so far, getting to the milestone in 37 deliveries!

After 14 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 129/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 49 , Ben Stokes 11)

Pollard into the attack, and pulls out of his delivery in the first ball, perhaps to frustrate Smith, and gets hit for a boundary when he actually delivers. Beautiful use of wrists by Smith in the fourth delivery, simply standing and delivering to send the ball over the cow-corner fence. 15 off Pollard’s first over, and Pune definitely are staring at a win now. 

Pune need 56 off 36 balls.

After 13 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 114/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 37 , Ben Stokes 9)

Smith looking more confident than ever, shuffling far right of his crease in the third delivery and pulling towards midwicket for his third boundary. The captain tucks one off his hip in the penultimate delivery to send the ball towards fine-leg. DROPPPED! Rana lets go of Smith in the final ball, and what a vital chance that was! Smith pulls it towards deep square-leg where the ball pops out of a running Rana’s palms. 

Pune need 71 off 42 balls.

Smith was happy to let Ajinkya Rahane go after the bowling, but needs to get a move on himself. The intent is there, but he too has been put off by tha lack of pace the Mumbai bowlers are imparting. With Stokes at the other end and MS Dhoni yet to come, this is when he needs to change gears.  

After 12 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 105/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 28 , Ben Stokes 9)

Bumrah returns to the attack, having bowled a good first over. Gets hit for his first boundary, which also happens to be the first for Stokes n his innings, reaching out for shot towards midwicket.

After 11 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 97/2 ( Steven Smith (C) 26 , Ben Stokes 3)

Rahane has to depart in the very first delivery of the 11th over, and it takes the umpires a few deliveries to confirm the dismissal. Superb over by the Kiwi pacer, with just four runs and a wicket coming off it. Meanwhile, Ben Stokes joins Smith at the centre.

Most 50-plus scores by openers in IPL:

29 – Gautam Gambhir 

28 – David Warner 

25 – Chris Gayle 

22 – AJINKYA RAHANE*

21 – Shikhar Dhawan

Fastest fifty for RPS in IPL: (By balls)

27 – AJINKYA RAHANE v MI, Today*

29 – Steve Smith v GL, Pune, 2016

30 – MS Dhoni v KXIP, Visakhapatnam, 2016

They called it the Maharashtra derby but it seems a bit like Pandyas backyard with the brothers operating from each end. Both of them are generally in the team to do the containment job rather than pick any wickets. It shows the lack of depth in Mumbai Indians bowling in looking to just contain runs at each end by having them bowl together.

OUT! Mumbai finally get the big wicket of Rahane, and it is Southee who gets the breakthrough! Rahane pulls the back-of-length delivery towards deep midwicket, where Nitish Rana pulls off a fine diving effort. Pune 93/2 after 10.1 overs. 

Ajinkya Rahane c Rana b Southee 60(34)

After 10 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 93/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 60 , Steven Smith (C) 25)

Another Pandya — Krunal this time — continues from the other end, and he gets hit for 11 runs, including a six down the ground off Rahane’s bat that Pollard gets a bit of his hand to after a leap.

After 9 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 82/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 52 , Steven Smith (C) 22)

Quick couple of runs at the start of the over by Rahane, before he hooks the second ball towards backward square-leg to bring up his fastest-ever fifty! What an innings this is turning out to be for Rahane, who had shown glimpses of his readiness for the format in his innings during India’s chase in the final Test against Australia in Dharamsala. Nine runs off the over.

FIFTY for Ajinkya Rahane! And what a way for the India Test vice-captain to bring up the milestone, in just 27 deliveries, by hooking the short ball from Hardik towards backward square-leg! Pune are in the driver’s seat at the moment! 

This is also Rahane’s fastest-ever fifty in IPL!

After 8 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 73/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 44 , Steven Smith (C) 21)

Krunal Pandya into the attack for the eighth over, and the left-arm spinner concedes a double in his very first delivery thanks to some quick running between the wickets. Gracefully driven through point on the backfoot by Smith in the third delivery to get his second boundary.

After 7 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 63/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 43 , Steven Smith (C) 12)

Hardik Pandya, whose heroic efforts in the last over of the Mumbai innings got them past the 180-mark, bowls his second over. Rahane and Smith rotate the strike between themselves for the most part in this over. Four singles off the over.

Number cruncher:

59 runs scored by RPS in powerplay overs today which is the second most for them in IPL. Their highest in PP overs is 60 v RCB at Bangalore in 2016.

Rahane, as he often does, getting into contention early for the orange cap. He has been an IPL beast since 2012. He will always give you early boundaries with his range of strokes and gift for timing. He has a tendency to get stuck in the middle though. RPSG don’t want him to eat up too many deliveries while keeping Dhoni and Stokes in the dressing room. His captain at the other end will be constantly reminding him of that I am sure.

Most people would have been waiting for Steve Smith to come out to bat, given the form he has been in this Indian home season. But let’s not forget that Ajinkya Rahane has a bone to pick with the Indian selectors. He was dropped from the Indian T20 side in January, and here he is not just batting, he is making a statement. Both teams identically placed after the Power Play.

After 6 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 59/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 41 , Steven Smith (C) 10)

McClenaghan into his second over. FOUR! Clubbed away towards cow-corner by Steve Smith in the very first ball, and the Australian skipper shows that he is a man to be reckoned across formats. SIX in the fourth delivery, this time Rahane cutting a short, wide delivery over third man. Guides the fifth delivery to the same region for a four. What an over this has turned out to be for the hosts, getting them right back into the game, with 16 coming off it. Time-out at the end of the over.

Rahane, as he often does, getting into contention early for the orange cap. He has been an IPL beast since 2012. He will always give you early boundaries with his range of strokes and gift for timing. He has a tendency to get stuck in the middle though. RPSG don’t want him to eat up too many deliveries while keeping Dhoni and Stokes in the dressing room. His captain at the other end will be constantly reminding him of that I am sure.

After 5 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 43/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 30 , Steven Smith (C) 5)

Jasprit Bumrah into the attack for the first time in the innings, and the Indian death overs specialist will look to keep a check on the Pune scoring rate in the remainder of the innings. Just four singles off the over.

Most catches by captains in IPL:

30 – Virat Kohli 

22 – Virender Sehwag 

19 – Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, ROHIT SHARMA*

18 – Sourav Ganguly

After 4 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 39/1 ( Ajinkya Rahane 28 , Steven Smith (C) 3)

Superb over by McClenaghan, not only bringing Pune’s raging momentum to a halt by dismissing Agarwal, but conceding just four runs off the over. Captain Steve Smith walks out to bat, and the thing that will worry the visitors will be the presence of Rahane, who is blazing away without worry at the moment.

OUT! Mitchell McClenaghan it is who draws first blood for Mumbai! Soft way for Mayank to head back to the pavilion, guiding it straight to Rohit Sharma at mid-off with backfoot drive. RPS 35/1 after 3.1 overs. 

Mayank Agarwal c Rohit b McClenaghan 6(5)

After 3 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 35/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane 27 , Mayank Agarwal 6)

Couple of dots to start the over, before Rahane middles the short ball in the third delivery for a six over fine-leg. Followed by a gentle push down the ground for a four! Rahane did lob the ball up at catching height, though it was a bit too wide and quick for Southee to complete the catch. Another superb over for Pune, with 12 coming off it.

After 2 overs,Rising Pune Supergiant 23/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane 16 , Mayank Agarwal 5)

Rahane starting to gain momentum straightaway. Hardik starts off with a half volley, Rahane square drives it through point for four. Hardik then bounces back to induce an outside edge but it flies wide of the slip cordon. Rahane then finally middles one as he thumps it over wide mid off. 15 runs off the over.

Hardik Pandya will bowl from the other end.

Highest targets successfully chased by teams against Mumbai Indians in IPL:

184 by CSK at Mumbai in 2015

183 by KTK at Mumbai in 2011

177 by DD at Delhi in 2008

After 1 over, Rising Pune Supergiant 8/0 ( Ajinkya Rahane 2 , Mayank Agarwal 5)

A good first over from Southee. He got the ball to swing a bit and nearly had a wicket straightaway. Mayank had a heart in the mouth moment when he edged one wide of the wide 1st slip off just the 2nd ball of the over, it raced away to the fence. Rahane slashed at one and missed while he went hard at the next one but ended up mistiming it back to the bowler. 8 runs off the over

Right! Rahane and Mayank Agarwal – The RPS openers – are out in the middle. Tim southee will start off.

Stat attack!

Ashok Dinda conceded 57 runs in his 4 overs today which is the most by an RPS bowler in an IPL match. The previous highest was 47 by Ishant Sharma against RCB in 2016. He conceded 30 runs in the 20th over of Mumbai Indians innings which is the most costliest 20th over in IPL history.

Highest totals at Gahunje in IPL:

196/7 – GL v RPS,2016

195/3 – RPS v GL,2016

187/3 – RCB v PW,2013

185/3 – RCB v RPS,2016

184/8 – MI v RPS, 2017*

Woah! What an exciting finish that. Completely worthy of a Bollywood movie climax! First a blockbuster catch from Mayank Agarwal diving forward in the outfield. In addition to ensuring a few thousand youtube hits with that sensational catch, Mayank would have had his teammates breathing easy for a while by sending back dangerous Pollard. Their relief was short lived though as Southee pummeled one back over Stokes head and Hardik Pandya finished the party by unleashing a flurry of flat, powerful, low flying rockets. This isn’t the first time Pandya has scored 30+ runs in the last over of a T20 match, he had once scored 34 off the final over playing for Baroda against Delhi in a Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 game. Baroda had lost the game on that occasion, his team will be hoping for a different result this time.

Most times 50-plus runs conceded in a match in IPL:

4 – ASHOK DINDA*

3 – Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, RP Singh, Andre Russell, Munaf Patel

Death Bowling was a major worry for RPS last season, and that is one of the reasons they went hell for leather after Ben Stokes in the auction. His yorkers and slower balls, will come in handy throughout the season.

Despite that, Dinda’s last over must have had the RPS staff thinking, ‘Here we go again’. A moderate total has become a challenging one. 
 

Don’t be surprised if you see Zampa bowling at the death later in the tournament.

After 20 overs,Mumbai Indians 184/8 ( Hardik Pandya 35 , Mitchell McClenaghan 0)

Final over. Dinda to bowl it. And it is three consecutive sixes off Hardik’s bat to start things off with — heading towards deep extra-cover,long-off and long-on respectively. The third one is an absolute beauty, with Pandya improvising to whack it down the ground despite getting cramped for room. Four in the fourth ball, with an outside edge carrying all the way to the third-man boundary. SIX MORE in the fifth ball, with Dinda now running out of ideas in this over! Wide and a run-out in the final delivery, which is then followed by a quick bye to end things.

OUT! After four sixes and a four, Dinda fires a full, wide delivery that the umpire instantly shoulders after. Southee however, runs to the striker’s end to join Hardik, allowing Dinda the opportunity to flick the bails off. 

Tim Southee run out 7(3)

After 19 overs,Mumbai Indians 154/7 ( Hardik Pandya 7 , Tim Southee 7)

Stokes into his final ovewr, and he will hope to make a strong comeback in the death overs. And that is what he does for five deliveries in the over, getting rid of Pollard in the second ball of the over. Tim Southee, the new batsman at the crease, hits the last ball straight down the ground to end the over with a bang. Boy, he does know how to bat, and Stokes was reminded of just that!

OUT! WHAT.A.CATCH! Mayank Agarwal takes a stunner at long-on for Kieron Pollard’s innings to come to an end in the death overs! Mumbai 146/7, with nine balls to go. 

Kieron Pollard c Agarwal b Stokes 27(17)

After 18 overs,Mumbai Indians 145/6 ( Kieron Pollard 27 , Hardik Pandya 5)

Dinda back into the attack, with three overs left in the Mumbai innings. Dinda goes well outside off and full to Pollard in the third delivery, and the latter appears to have nicked it to Dhoni, who failed to hold on to the chance. Wasn’t exactly an easy chance, but would have been invaluable for Pune nevertheless. Four to end the over, with a thick outside edge off Pollard’s bat carrying all the way to the third man boundary. Two more overs to go.

Best bowling figures for leg-spinners v Mumbai Indians in IPL:

3/22 – Imran Tahir for DD at Delhi in 2014-15

3/24 – Piyush Chawla for KXIP at Mohali in 2009/10

3/24 – Shane Warne for RR at Kingsmead in 2008/09

3/28 – IMRAN TAHIR for RPS, Today*

3/37 – Imran Tahir for DD at Wankhede in 2013/14

Pace off the ball has kept Pune in the game. Mumbai Indians may be kicking themselves for leaving the experienced Harbhajan Singh out. Rajat Bhatia picked a few crucial wickets in the middle over as he often does in the IPL. Imran Tahir has bowled an exceptional spell here but Pollard managed to survive that after a close shout for LBW. Pollard in the middle during the slog overs could easily mean a difference of 20 runs to the final total.

Bit of a delay out at the centre. Pollard was hit on his elbow by Imran Tahir’s throw at the striker’s end at the end of the previous over, and the physios are attending to him at the moment.

After 17 overs,Mumbai Indians 137/6 ( Kieron Pollard 22 , Hardik Pandya 3)

Tahir into his final over. Pollard tries slogging in the first ball of the over, but an inside-edge carries to short fine-leg, which allows him only a single. Rotation of strike in the next three deliveries. SIX! That has to be one of the flattest sixes ever! Pollard powered that one down the ground towards long-off, and the ball barely went above the average human height in its entire journey.

After 16 overs,Mumbai Indians 127/6 ( Kieron Pollard 14 , Hardik Pandya 1)

Zampa into his third over. FOUR! Hit down the ground by Pollard like a TRACER BULLET (pardon the Shaz) in the very first ball. Zampa does hit back later in the over, though it is Rana instead of Pollard who he sends back to the pavilion. Seven off the over.

OUT! Rana’s entertaining stay comes to an end after he is caught at cow-corner while attempting another slog. Would have cleared the boundary rope, just that he managed to hit it straight into the hands of Bhatia near the boundary rope. And its time for a strategic timeout! MI 125/6

Nitish Rana c Bhatia b Zampa 34(28)

After 15 overs,Mumbai Indians 120/5 ( Nitish Rana 34 , Kieron Pollard 8)

Tahir into his third over. FOUR! Hit straight over the umpire’s head by Pollard in the first ball of the over, with the Trinidadian showing his brute strength in the shot. Massive shout for an lbw in the following delivery by Tahir, which umpire Ravi turns down — and MSD jokingly signals for it to be REVIEWED! Turns out it wasn’t a case of bat-pad, as the umpire might have thought, and Pollard was trapped plumb. Well Tahir did get lucky with the Buttler dismissal earlier…

After 14 overs,Mumbai Indians 111/5 ( Nitish Rana 31 , Kieron Pollard 2)

Bhatia into his third over. Stokes saves three runs for Pune in the first ball of the over, showing agility at deep midwicket. The vastly experienced Bhatia uses the slower ball to deadly effect in the over once again, this time foxing Krunal into an attempted slog that ultimately turns out to be a top-edge. Kieron Pollard, the hard-hitting West Indian and veteran campaigner for the visitors, walks out to bat.

Pace off the ball is giving RPS the results on this pitch where the ball is skidding on nicely. Now Bhatia is getting into the act. their skill on the ground is one thing, but you have to admire the boldness of Smith and the RPS coaching staff in leaving out Faf du Plessis in favour of two overseas leg spinners.

OUT! Bhatia at it again, this time bowling an even slower one — just 96 clicks — that Krunal only manages to top-edge high into the sky. Dhoni moves not very far from his position to complete the catch. Mumbai 107/5

Krunal Pandya c Dhoni b Bhatia 3(5)

After 13 overs,Mumbai Indians 106/4 ( Nitish Rana 28 , Krunal Pandya 3)

Stokes into his third over. Rana, unfazed by the dismissals, brings up the team 100 in style with a powerful pull over the midwicket boundary in the first legal delivery of the over — the first ball going for 2 wides. 11 runs off the over, with the most expensive buy of the tournament still looking for the elusive wicket.

After 12 overs,Mumbai Indians 97/4 ( Nitish Rana 20 , Krunal Pandya 2)

Clever bowling by Bhatia in his second over, deceiving Rayudu with a slower ball that the batsman meekly pats back to the bowler for the simplest of catches. Brings out Krunal Pandya to the centre, who has showed ability to play important knocks for the franchise in the previous season.

Tahir vs Zampa could be a nice little dressing room rivalry this season that two spinners of the same trade tend to have. Both of them may be gunning for the same overseas player spot at some point this season.

OUT! Soft dismissal for Rajat Bhatia, and it is Ambati Rayudu who offers the simplest of catches to the military medium-pacer for Mumbai to lose their fourth wicket with 92 on board.

Ambati Rayudu c&b Bhatia 10(12)

After 11 overs,Mumbai Indians 92/3 ( Nitish Rana 19 , Ambati Rayudu 10)

Zampa into his second over, and gets the ball to whistle past Rana’s leg-stump in the fourth delivery, though its called a wide due to it being pitched well outside leg. Rana manages to connect his sweep in the fifth ball, beating short fine-leg along the way.

Most Runs for Mumbai Indians in IPL:

2707 – Rohit Sharma 

2335 – AMBATI RAYUDU*

2334 – Sachin Tendulkar 

1958 – Kieron Pollard 

942 – Lendl Simmons 

After 10 overs,Mumbai Indians 82/3 ( Nitish Rana 12 , Ambati Rayudu 9)

Rajat Bhatia, who had been handful both with bat and ball in the previous season for the side, is introduced into the attack in the 10th over, conceding six runs in a disciplined over. Mumbai’s progress has been pegged back by a few yards, but the start that they got earlier has given them a platform to target a total in the range of 160-180 or above.

After 9 overs,Mumbai Indians 76/3 ( Nitish Rana 10 , Ambati Rayudu 5)

Steve Smith introduces fellow Aussie Adam Zampa into the attack. Nitish Rana, who has been quiet so far in the innings, expresses himself in the third delivery with a powerful pull over the square-leg boundary. That shot should restore some confidence both for the batsman, as well as for the visitors, who have taken a severe beating in the last three-four overs. The umpire calls for a timeout at the end of the over.

After 8 overs,Mumbai Indians 66/3 ( Nitish Rana 2 , Ambati Rayudu 3)

Ben Stokes from the other end, and now skipper Steve Smith will look to tighten his grip on the visitors. Near run-out in the first all, which could have translated to the fall of the fourth wicket for Mumbai Indians, with Rayudu the batsman in question. Very tidy over this, with just three singles off it.

Most times three or more wickets taken in a match against Mumbai Indians in IPL:

3 – Dwayne Bravo 

3 – Sunil Narine 

3 – Mohit Sharma 

3 – IMRAN TAHIR*

After 7 overs,Mumbai Indians 63/3 ( Nitish Rana 1 , Ambati Rayudu 1)

Two singles and as many wickets in seventh over of the innings. IMran Tahir has been brilliant in the two overs that he has bowled so far, and this over in particular shows why he is such an asset, as well as the No 1 limited-overs bowler in the world at the moment! Two new batsmen out at the centre at the moment, and the pressure is all on the visitors.

Most runs scored by Mumbai Indians in Powerplay overs since 2015 in IPL:

64/1 v KKR at Wankhede, 2016

61/0 v CSK at Chepauk, 2015

61/1 v CSK at Kolkata, 2015

61/1 v RPS at Pune, 2017*

53/1 v KKR at Kolkata, 2016

Who do you give the power play to? Butler and Parthiv’s onslaught forced Smith to bring on Tahir in the power play, and that ironically has given RPS three huge wickets. MI’s long batting order will need to comento the party, but Smith will be thinking about his second leg spinner waiting in the wings. 

OUT! HUGE WICKET FOR RPS! And Imran Tahir is on fire at the moment! Gets one to skid through once again, although replays show Buttler getting an inside-edge onto his pads. Mumbai Indians 62/3

Jos Buttler lbw Imran Tahir 38(19)

BOWLED EM! Quicker delivery from Tahir once again, and this time he gets the Mumbai Indians captain! Fires this one along middle, with the ball continuing along its path after skidding through, beating Rohit for pace! Mumbai Indians 61/2

Rohit Sharma b Tahir 3(6)

After 6 overs,Mumbai Indians 61/1 ( Jos Buttler 38 , Rohit Sharma (C) 3)

Chahar back into the attack in the sixth over. Rohit gets a single off the first ball after a thick outside edge off his bat. Four in the fourth ball of the over, with Buttler coming down the track and driving Chahar, bringing up the team 50. SIX in the next delivery, and this one is a stunner! Buttler down the track again, only he reaches out for the slash, and gets enough power in his shot to clear the extra-cover boundary. 13 runs off the over, with Chahar’s luck barely improving.

Smith had a few early headaches in his new role. India isn’t an easy place to play even with Starc, Hazelwood, Cummins by your side. He now has to contend with Dinda and Chahar, two new ball bowlers he doesn’t know much about. He is up against one of the world’s most destructive batsmen in Joss Buttler.

Pune bowlers don’t look to keen to pitch the ball up in Joss Buttler’s arc but they were too short against Parthiv Patel as well who enjoys hanging on the backfoot against pace bowling. 

Using 4 bowlers in first betrays Smith’s confusion. He will be thankful to have world’s number one limited over bowler as a late replacement in helping him exert some control over proceedings.

After 5 overs,Mumbai Indians 48/1 ( Jos Buttler 26 , Rohit Sharma (C) 2)

Imran Tahir into the attack, and gets swept towards backward square-leg for a boundary in the very first ball. The South African leggie however, produces a terrific comeback in the very next delivery, foxing him with one that pitched up, bringing captain Rohit Sharma out to the centre. Seven runs and an important wicket from the over.

After 5 overs,Mumbai Indians 48/1 ( Jos Buttler 26 , Rohit Sharma (C) 2)

Imran Tahir into the attack, and gets swept towards backward square-leg for a boundary in the very first ball. The South African leggie however, produces a terrific comeback in the very next delivery, foxing him with one that pitched up, bringing captain Rohit Sharma out to the centre. Seven runs and an important wicket from the over.

OUT! After getting hit for a boundary in his first ball of the tournament, Tahir produces a gem of a delivery in the very next delivery, pitching it up along leg and beating him for pace to rattle his leg stump! The opening stand ends at five short of 50. 

Parthiv Patel b Tahir 19(14)

After 4 overs,Mumbai Indians 41/0 ( Parthiv Patel (W) 15 , Jos Buttler 25)

The million-dollar England all-rounder Ben Stokes is introduced into the attack in the fourth over, with Steve Smith desperately looking to nip the opening partnership early. And he gets whacked for a six over long-on by compatriot Jos Buttler in the fourth delivery with a slog. A second successive six in the next ball, with Buttler scooping the back-of-length delivery outside off over the long-stop boundary. Dot to end what turns out to be a rather expensive first over for Stokes. Mumbai are progressing at a rate of more than 10 per over.

After 3 overs,Mumbai Indians 28/0 ( Parthiv Patel (W) 14 , Jos Buttler 13)

Powerful pull by Parthiv, who looks to stamp his authority on the bowlers as well, between the midwicket and mid-on region, and goes for a straight drive in the penultimate delivery. That is before he is dropped on 13 by Rajat Bhatia at third man, having slashed a short of length delivery to the region. My oh my! Will that cost RPS heavily this match?

The pitch has a tinge of grass on it. It remains to be seen whether this will offer the kind of pace and bounce that MCA pitch curator Pandurang Salgaonkar promised before the test match. If it does then Mitchell Johnson who bowled some extraordinary spells in Big Bash this season will be gutted at missing out.

Mumbai Indians have put pressure on themselves by packing their team with batsmen, this may not be a 200+ pitch but given their team composition, they want to score big and bat Pune out of this game.

RPSG have picked two leg spinners, perhaps drawing inspiration from the Chahal-Mishra show in India’s last T20 game. This may be a pattern throughout this IPL as leg spinners continue to create an impact in T20s ( http://www.firstpost.com/sports/the-yuzvendra-chahal-amit-mishra-show-why-leg-spinners-are-one-of-the-most-lethal-weapons-in-t20s-3285068.html )

After 2 overs,Mumbai Indians 19/0 ( Parthiv Patel (W) 5 , Jos Buttler 13)

Deepak Chahar, the culprit behind the overthrows in the previous over, is handed the ball in the following over, and starts off with a short ball that is pulled away towards the cow-corner first ball. Another four two deliveries later, this time towards fine-leg, as the hard-hitting Englishman begins scoring at a tremendous rate. Eight runs off the over.

Jos Buttler as an opener in T20s before this match:

Matches – 2
Runs – 130
Ave – 65.00
SR – 178.08
50s – 2 
HS – 73*

After 1 overs,Mumbai 11/0 ( Parthiv Patel (W) 5 , Jos Buttler 5)

Dinda starts off with a wide, with a hint of swing in the delivery that went down Parthiv’s leg side. First runs off the bat in the second legal delivery of the innings. Five overthrows in the third ball, with Chahar having an ambitious throw at the non-striker’s end, with the ball beating all fielders along the way. First boundary of the innings in the following delivery, with Parthiv tucking one off his hip towards the fine-leg boundary. Good first over for the Mumbaikars, with 11 coming off it.

As this match gets underway, the focus is on the pitch. Last time there was a game here, India were given a taste of their own spin medicine. This is a different surface though. A more traditional Pune surface with some grass on it.  

Also it is MSD’s first game in the IPL where he isn’t captain. Be sure to watch out how his batting shapes up this tournament.

Parthiv Patel and Jos Buttler (interesting decision) walk out to open the Mumbai innings, with Ashok Dinda bowling the first over. Let the action begin!

At MCA Stadium, Pune:

Rising Pune Supergiant: Matches – 4, Lost – 4

Mumbai Indians: Matches – 3, Won – 3 

Most consecutive matches as a captain in IPL:

111 – MS Dhoni 

100 – Gautam Gambhir 

72 – Virat Kohli 

59 – Adam Gilchrist, ROHIT SHARMA*

48 – Rahul Dravid 

Rising Pune Supergiant XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Steve Smith (c), Manoj Tiwary, MS Dhoni, Ben Stokes, R Bhatia, Deepak Chahar, Adam Zampa, Imran Tahir, Ashok Dinda.

Mumbai Indians XI: Rohit Sharma, Parthiv Patel, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Nitish Rana, Jos Buttler, Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Mitchell McClenaghan, Tim Southee, Jasprit Bumrah.

Both captains will be keen to prove a few points in this game. Rohit Sharma is returning after a long injury layoff and has a point or two to prove about his fitness and form while having to worry about team combination and field placements. Steve Smith is filling the shoes of a cricketing giant and one of the most popular cricketers of this generation at a time when he may not be the most popular guys in this country after the brainfade-gate. He is one of the toughest blokes in world cricket though in addition to being one of the top batsmen in the game and this extra burden of expectations wouldn’t worry him much. RPSG will be counting on the professionalism and skills of their star-studded lineup, they are the newest kid on the block in IPL with a bag full of the most expensive toys that money can buy under pressure to prove that they belong.

Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma, who has played only a couple of domestic matches between this game and the last international match he played before his injury break, says the visitors are going with six batters, one all-rounder and four bowlers. Mitchell McClenaghan. Tim Southee. Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik, Krunal Pandya feature in the team.

Steve Smith becomes the first player from Australia to captain three different IPL teams. Before leading RPS, he led Rajasthan Royals and Pune Warriors. And this is the first time MS Dhoni will play an IPL match as a player, not as a captain of his team. 

MS Dhoni as a captain in IPL:

Matches – 143, Won – 83, Lost – 59, NR – 1

Newly-appointed Rising Pune Supergiant captain Steve Smith chuckles when asked about the pitch, which is vastly different from the one on which the first Test between India and Australia was played, in which he led the visitors to a massive 333-run win. This pitch has a green tinge to it, and is expected to offer movement.

TOSS: Rising Pune Supergiant win the toss, and elect to field first.

Pitch report: Teams will want to chase. This pitch looks radically different from the Test. Bit green this time, and will offer movement, says Sunil Gavaskar. It looks like the pitch from the India-Sri Lanka T20, says Harsha Bhogle.

The second opening ceremony of the ongoing tournament has kicked off, and despite the likes of Riteish Deshmukh and Shalmali Kholgade performing ahead of the Rising Pune Supergiant-Mumbai Indians clash, there hardly seems to be a crowd at the MCA Stadium on the outskirts of the city. 

Peter Miller’s piece on why IPL opening ceremonies are a waste of time perhaps is a pertinent point in this regard.

IPL 2017: Eight reasons why eight opening ceremonies are a waste of everyone’s timehttp://www.firstpost.com

IPL 2017 teams: Rising Pune Supergiant full squadhttp://www.firstpost.com

IPL 2017 teams: Mumbai Indians full squadhttp://www.firstpost.com

Jigar Mehta discusses what Mumbai Indians need to do in their opening match against Rising Pune Supergiant…

IPL 2017: Steve Smith-led Rising Pune Supergiant look to start on winning note against Mumbai Indianshttp://www.firstpost.com

IPL 2017: Rejuvenated Yuvraj Singh and able middle order help Sunrisers Hyderabad to dominant start

http://www.firstpost.com

IPL 2017: Royal Challengers Bangalore’s sloppy fielding, rusty performance cost them opening match

http://www.firstpost.com

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the second match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) between Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians (MI) at the MCA Stadium in Pune on Thursday.