13th Match: Gujarat Lions vs Rising Pune Supergiant at Rajkot, 14th of April, IPL 2017

Gujarat Lions

IPL 2017 Match Prediction: First Innings Score

The Gujarat Lions will get over 160+. With someone as explosive as McCullum opening the batting, it’s probably the right idea to also utilize Dwayne Smith to his fullest potential as an opener or rather not play him at all and get an overseas bowler.

The Gujarat Lions run of losing cannot be explained

2-0, the figure appallingly doesn’t indicate 2 wins in 2 matches for the Lions but rather 2 in 2 losses. A side that has all the talent on paper has somehow not shown the same talent that appears on paper, on the field. Starting from McCullum at the top and Finch, Raina, Smith in the middle order – it really is a pickle how Lions are still not able to utilize this talent into a match winning formula.

The bowling unit needs some serious overhaul

The Lions has a major concern in form of their bowling unit. While it seems only a time factor until their batting unit clicks and starts putting big totals on board, the bowling looks weak and lacks the firepower to stop the flow of runs or take consistent wickets. Faulkner and Tye remained out of the side in Lions the last match as the team management opted to play 4 overseas batsmen – a strategy that’s clearing not working.

Rising Pune Supergiant

IPL 2017 Match Prediction: First Innings Score

The Rising Pune Supergiant are coming from an absolute thrashing against the Delhi Daredevils, 150+ will be what they’ll be aiming at.

Bowled out for 108, Pune’s star power failed to gaze a winning opportunity

After Smith’s heroics in the first match against the Mumbai Indians, the Rising Pune Supergiant has been hit hard with 2 successive losses. Their last match against the Delhi Daredevils exposed the weakness in the Pune batting order – that depends heavily on Steve Smith, who missed out in the match due to an illness. Bundled out for 108 on a pitch where Delhi scored 205 and Samson scored a ton, the Pune unit will be bamboozled by the poor show.

Pune need Smith to be back fit & lead the side

The returning of Steve Smith is key to Pune bouncing back. Not only is he a key batsman for the franchise, he’s also their captain and tends to lead by example. Smith’s absence showed in Pune’s improper handling of resources in their last match against DD, in which they were surprisingly captained by Rahane and not MS Dhoni.

IPL 2017 Match Prediction: Who’ll win this match?

With 2 sides that are equally desperate for a win, the Gujarat Lions look stronger of the two on paper. The Lions should wrap this in their favor subject to them performing as per the talent they have on their side and not what we’ve come to see in their last 2 matches.

 IPL 2017 Match Prediction: Key Player

Suresh Raina – playing against some of his ex-team mates from CSK, Raina will be keen to lead his side by example as their captain. Raina had a good start to the IPL but looked out of sync in Lions’ last match, we predict he will score in excess of 30+ in the match.

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