The first half of the Indian Premier League is almost over and we have witnessed some boisterous contests. The tournament is surely living up to its reputation across the nation for the entertainment it provides. Two teams, who have traversed diverse paths in the tournament face off tonight. It's Rising Pune Supergiants taking on Gujarat Lions. After four losses on the trot, RPS turned the tide with a win against SRH in their previous game. They will be high on confidence and are keen to sustain the winning momentum. Just days after Kevin Pietersen hobbled out of the pitch with a calf injury, Pune suffered yet another setback when Faf du Plessis, their second leading run-getter, was ruled out of the competition due to a finger injury. Usman Khawaja replaces him in the squad. Ashok Dinda and Mitchell Marsh's bowling against Hyderabad will certainly inspire confidence in their ranks. There will be huge pressure on Ajinkya Rahane, Steve Smith and MS Dhoni to shoulder responsibility with the bat.
Rising Pune Supergiant vs Gujarat Lions, 25th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary
The Lions, sitting pretty at the top of the points table, staged a dramatic fightback to down Daredevils by a solitary run in their last match. Their bowling unit literally pulled back the game from the jaws of defeat. One of the reasons behind the visitor's success has been their batting top order. Aaron Finch, Brendon McCullum and Dwayne Smith have ensured brisk starts so far in the league but Finch's fitness is a cause of concern for the Rajkot-based franchise. In the first leg when these two sides met, Gujarat had come out on top and this time ideally, Dhoni would be seeking a revenge. Stay tuned! We will bring you the toss and teams in a little while.
Dinesh Karthik fell soon after adding a fifty-run stand with Raina. However, the skipper was already well-set. With the chase getting tighter and tighter, the onus was on him to deliver again.
Murugan Ashwin conceded only four runs off the 18th over. In the following over, with 20 needed, Bravo and Jadeja fell in quick succession putting the skipper under more pressure.
With 9 needed off the last over bowled by Thisara Perera, Gujarat almost made a mess out of it before Faulkner held his nerve. Raina and Ishan Kishen fell off successive deliveries as the final over meandered down to one needed off the last ball. Faulkner calmly chipped it past short mid on and helped Gujarat to yet another successful chase.