MS Dhoni Suresh Raina
MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina were teammates at Chennai Super Kings from 2008 to 2015 Getty

Rising Pune Supergiants play host to the Gujarat Lions in the 25<sup>th game of the 2016 Indian Premier League at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on 29 April.

Where to watch live

Match starts at 3.30pm BST/8pm IST. Live coverage of the game is available on Sky Sports 2 and Sky Sports 2 HD in the UK. Set Max, Sony Six, Sony Six HD, Sony ESPN and Sony ESPN HD will telecast the match live in India. Click here for the live streaming link.

Overview

The Pune-based outfit take on league leaders Gujarat Lions in a game which will see two friends and Indian teammates in MS Dhoni and Suresh Raina face off. The Pune outfit have had a disappointing IPL season so far, but will come into this game with some confidence after beating the Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last game on 26 April.

Ashok Dinda and Mitchell Marsh – two players who have not had too much game time this season –wrecked the opposition batting line up, while Australian Steve Smith finally came good with the bat. Dhoni's preference for all-rounders was seen in the last game as both Thisara Perera and Marsh were included in the playing XI. Faf du Plessis has been ruled out due to a finger injury, that might see Usman Khawaja come in for him, it is a big blow for the Pune giants as the South African was their most in-form batsman.

Barring du Pless, the Supergiants are expected to go in with the same team that helped them win what was only their second game of the competition.

Table-toppers Gujarat Lions were probably lucky to win their last game against Delhi Daredevils on 27 April, but again showed that they play as a team and are willing to make their own luck. The last game saw Brendon McCullum blast his way back to form, compiling a destructive 36-ball 60, while all-rounder Dwayne Smith played some impressive knocks after coming in for the injured Aaron Finch.

The bowlers had an off day in the last game, but Dwayne Bravo and co have the variations and tricks to trouble batsman and will be tough to play on a slow track. Gujarat might go in with the same team. However, if Aaron Finch is fit, Smith might have to make way despite his good form.

Prediction

Gujarat Lions to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • Rising Pune Supergiants to win: 1
  • Gujarat Lions to win: 3/4

Team news

Rising Pune Supergiants

Possible XI: Ajinkya Rahane, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Saurabh Tiwary, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Mitchell Marsh, Thisara Perera, Rajat Bhatia, R Ashwin, M Ashwin, Ashok Dinda.

Gujarat Lions

Possible XI: Dwayne Smith, Brendon McCullum, Suresh Raina (C), Dinesh Karthik (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Dwayne Bravo, Ishan Kishan, James Faulkner, Praveen Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni, Pravin Tambe.

Gujarat Lions