IPL 2017: Know your team - Strengths, Weaknesses and Key Performance Indicators

Rising Pune Supergiant

MS Dhoni has been replaced by Steve Smith as captain of Rising Pune Supergiant

Strength: Batting structure

A likely top six of Ajinkya Rahane, Mayank Agarwal, Faf du Plessis, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes and MS Dhoni has a clear crescendo-like structure, in which roles are well-defined. Rajat Bhatia is their likely number seven, and with a career run rate of just 7.11 he signals a short batting order, so that top six are under pressure - but if they click they’ll post some decent scores.

Weakness: Bowling

Pune’s bowling attack is arguably the weakest in the IPL. Before Ravichandran Ashwin was ruled out with injury, their spin attack, with Imran Tahir and Adam Zampa, was their saving grace. But with only one of the wrist spinners likely to play, whichever one it is will have a hard time supporting a seam attack likely to comprise three of Stokes, Ashok Dinda, Ishwar Pandey and Jaydev Unadkat.

Key Performance Indicator: Powerplays

If Rahane and Agarwal can form a stable and busy opening partnership they will lay the platform for a stellar middle and lower order. Meanwhile, Dinda can be a wicket-taking threat in the Powerplay - if he can do that this season he might be able to mask their bowling deficiencies.