Rising Pune Supergiants faced the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the second time this season. RPS had won the previous encounter via D/L method by 34 runs. SRH who secured a big win over the defending champions, on the same ground in their previous match, were looking to repeat their heroics as David Warner won the toss and chose to bat first.

The move failed stupendously as they couldn’t get the start they got against Mumbai. The pitch was on a slower side and they had to adjust and the ball was stopping before coming on to the bat. Warner couldn’t adjust to the pace of the wicket as he departed in the fourth over. Dhoni had done his homework as he introduced spin immediately after the powerplay, which crippled SRH’s scoring rate which was just above 6. R Ashwin was the one to break the partnership and get the crucial wicket of Shikhar Dhawan when he deceived him with his loop and flight. After that, Adam Zampa put on a spectacular display of spin bowling and showed everyone, that with a little help from the wicket, leg spinner can still win you matches in any format. Zampa ended his night with figures of 4-19-6. SRH still scored in the last overs to reach a target of 138.

The target was a bit tricky, to chase. The Sunrisers pacers never really let the batsmen settle in. RPS lost their openers quickly. Dhoni shocked everyone with his captaincy as he sent Ashwin ahead of an in-form Saurabh Tiwary. Though Ashwin stabilized the ship along with George Bailey, but it wasn’t fast enough. Dhoni almost got RPS home with the help of Thisara Perera. It was 14 required off 6 when the old fox Nehra kept his cool to bowl a superb last over, which proved to be a match-winner and send RPS out of the tournament.