The struggling Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) will face an in-form Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in Match 40 of IPL 2016 at the ADA-VDCA Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. MS Dhoni and co. face a do-or-die situation as they cannot afford to lose any further matches in this tournament, in order to stay in the hunt for a playoff spot.
Supergiants' maiden IPL journey has not been a happy one, as a spate of injuries have put them on the back foot. Four of their crucial overseas players – Kevin Pietersen, Steve Smith, Faf du Plessis and Mitchell Marsh -- have gone back home after suffering from injuries and that has left Dhoni with very little options to play with.
While Usman Khawaja and George Bailey have been added to the rank as replacements, they have not helped a great deal in the last couple of matches.
Dhoni himself is nursing a sore back, but he is likely to play against Sunrisers Hyderabad, as it is a must-win game for his side.
Murugan Ashwin is also injured and missed the last game. The spinner is expected to miss this match as well.
Scott Boland was replaced by Adam Zampa in the last game against RCB. Zampa, who was impressive during the Big Bash League and ICC World T20 2016 earlier this year, picked up two wickets and is likely to retain his place in the playing XI.
Irfan Pathan and Ishwar Pandey may just get a game. Pandey, who was a regular face in Dhoni's Chennai Super Kings side, may replace RP Singh. RP Singh has not been able to make an impact in IPL 2016. Pathan on the other hand is likely to replace Rajat Bhatia, who was taken for plenty in the last game against RCB.
Meanwhile, Sunrisers Hyderabad is unlikely to make any changes to their squad. Ever since the arrival of Yuvraj Singh and Kane Williamson, they have become stronger and are one of the contenders for the IPL title this season.
Mustafizur Rahman has been their star bowler and he is one of the most economical bowlers (6.15) in IPL 2016. The Bangladeshi pace-sensation is also the second highest wicket-taker (13) in IPL 2016 so far. He has been bowling extremely well in tandem with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish Nehra and Barinder Sran.
The Sunrisers are a settled unit and Warner will not want to change the winning combination. SRH have won six out of their last seven matches and will be eyeing top spot in the IPL 2016 points table with a victory.
Expected playing XI: Rising Pune Supergiants: Usman Khawaja, Ajinkya Rahane, Saurabh Tiwary, George Bailey, MS Dhoni (C & wk), Thisara Perera, Irfan Pathan, R Ashwin, Ishwar Pandey, Adam Zampa, Ashok Dinda.
Sunrisers Hyderabad: David Warner (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Kane Williamson, Yuvraj Singh, Moises Henriques, Deepak Hooda, Naman Ojha (wk), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Barinder Sran, Ashish Nehra, Mustafizur Rahman.
