Former Chennai Super Kings team-mates M. S. Dhoni and Brendon McCullum have a lot of things in common. Both started their international cricket as wicket-keepers but are, arguably, more known for their exploits with the bat. Both are phenomenal athletes who redefined batting with their hard hitting and exceptional running between the wickets.
And perhaps most importantly, the two are fearless leaders who changed the face of their respective national teams with an attacking, positive approach to cricket.
Yet neither of the cricketing revolutionaries will be captaining their sides when Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) hosts Gujarat Lions in a potential play-off berth clincher. That doesn’t, however, take away the importance of both the stars. While RPS might boast of having Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi and Australian Steve Smith in its ranks, it is still dependent on Dhoni to finish-off matches as was evident in the team’s last-ball win against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH).
Similarly, Gujarat has an interesting set of batsmen in its repertoire, but is still dependent on Bas running riots in the early overs and disrupting the balance of play.
Hence it is not surprising that teams’ form, much like the two stars’ this IPL season, has been inconsistent. RPS, with 10 points from nine matches, is currently fourth in the table while Gujarat with six, is two places below. Hence the pressure will be on Suresh Raina-led visiting team to snatch a win a stay in the hunt for a semi-final slot.
Pune, however, can’t afford to relax, with Kings XI Punjab, currently fifth on the table with 8 points, boasting a superior net run-rate.
Prior to his match-winning 34-ball 61 against SRH, Dhoni had scored just 61 runs from 73 balls in the entire tournament. Similarly, McCullum has shown glimpses of his destructive best – his quick-fire 72 off 44 balls going in vain against Royal Challengers Bangalore – but has struggled to find consistency. But big players know the perfect time to switch to another gear and Monday’s match in Pune, with play-off hopes still hanging in the balance, would be a befitting occasion for both the legends to spark up the cricket field one more time.
Expect fireworks!
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