After a dismal first season where they managed a seventh-place finish in the eight-team tournament, everything is falling into place for Rising Pune Supergiant this season. The franchise took the tough call of replacing MS Dhoni with Steve Smith as the skipper of the team and also bought Ben Stokes for a record-breaking price, making him the costliest overseas player of all time. The franchise is now reaping the rewards for taking the big calls.
The team, under Steve Smith, is now looking a well-gelled unit and it is reflecting on their performances. After defeating Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore in their last three games, Steve Smith’s men defeated Gujarat Lions on Monday (May 1) to take their tally to 6 wins in 10 matches.
Chasing 161, the Pune-based outfit was in a spot of bother when they were reduced to 10 for 3 and then 42 for 4 but Ben Stokes scored a stunning century to guide them home with a ball to spare.
Speaking after the game, Smith spoke on how his teammates are getting together really well and expressed his delight over the way his team is performing.
“For us it’s about trying to get to know each other for six or eight weeks and try and get the best out of each other,” said Smith at the post-match conference.“Even learn a bit about one another. The team’s been really good. We’ve got some really good characters in the shed there.
“It’s been good how we’ve been able to gel together as a team. I’d say for us and Gujarat as well, would’ve been the toughest for the two franchises, given that we were new teams. A lot of other teams have had their core players for a long time so they know each other really well. They have had many years of bonding together. It’s nice to be playing some good cricket at the same time; it helps,” he added.
Smith further said how he asked his teammates to do well in home matches and they have responded really well as Pune have won four of their six home games this season, which has put them in a strong position to make it to playoffs. Smith also said that his team has been fortunate to get the wins from tight situations, unlike the last edition.
“I actually said to the group of guys that we had five games, four here (in Pune) and one in Mumbai. Not a lot of travel. Home ground, we wanted to try and make it a bit of a fortress. We’re four and two here if I’m right. That’s reasonable going. One more game to play here against the Kings, so hopefully we can make it 5 and 2. I’ve said that these five games are very important for us and I think we’ve played some really good cricket and it’s nice to get over the line and be in the position where we are now.
“It’s certainly been a different season for us. This year we’ve been able to get over the line in those close games. Last year we were at the end of that. That’s how T20 cricket works sometimes. We’ve been really fortunate there,” the Australia skipper added.
Smith admitted that leaving out Lockie Ferguson, who gave a Man-of-the-Match-winning performance against Royal Challengers Bangalore, was tough but did so to get the right balance for his team. Ferguson was replaced by Ben Stokes, who had missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, and the decision was a masterstroke as the Englishman scored his first T20 century to take his team to an unlikely five-wicket win.
“It was difficult (to leave out Ferguson) but we had some different thoughts,” said Smith. “We thought this is our best combination. Dan Christian has bowled particularly well in the games he’s played and he’s a power-hitter towards the end as well. He’s done a really good job for us. So tonight it was the right call. It’s about trying to get the right balance for your team in any conditions you play. It’s not just our team that faces this. Every team has some quality players on their bench in the opposition, so it’s tough on the guys that they miss out, but you have to try and pick your best team for each game,” Smith said.