IPL 2017: Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) Predicted XI

Fast bowlers:

Ashok Dinda

Dinda will lead the inexperienced Pune bowling attack

The loss of Ravichandran Ashwin means that the responsibility of being the leader of the bowling attack will fall on Ashoke Dinda's shoulders. The Bengal fast bowler is the most experienced of all the bowlers and is in good form as well, having been an integral part of the Bengal side that reached the final of the Vijay Hazare Trophy.

Dinda's experience and ability to bowl at the start and end of the innings will be crucial for Pune as they don't have too many experienced fast bowlers in their ranks. The 33-year-old has shown that he can shoulder the responsibility and it will be up to him lead the inexperienced bowling attack and deliver success.

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Jaydev Unadkat

The battle for the second seamer slot is likely to be between Jaydev Unadkat and Shardul Thakur. Although the latter was impressive in the Ranji Trophy, the 25-year-old has played just 18 T20 games in his career and with him being another right-arm seamer, Steve Smith might just be tempted to go with variety and pick Jaydev Unadkat as the sole left-arm seamer.

It is not just variety that Unadkat brings to the side but it is also some good form from the domestic limited-overs competitions. He picked up 10 wickets in five matches during the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Saurashtra and has shown that he has the variations to impress and outfox batsmen in the IPL.

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Ishwar Pandey

The final spot in the side is one that will largely depend on the conditions on offer. Although Pune don't have too many experienced players in the bowling department, they are not short on options and can pick someone depending on the conditions and the opposition.

For their opening game at Pune and for the first few games at least, it looks like Ishwar Pandey might get the nod ahead of left-arm spinner Ankit Sharma. The 27-year-old fast bowler has been in good form during the domestic season and with Steve Smith as captain, the preference might be for an extra pacer and not a spinner if his track record with Australia is anything to go by.