Rising Pune Supergiants

Country: India
Code: RPS

History

Fixtures

Players

Venues

The Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS), an Indian cricket team, was established in 2015 as one of the two franchises introduced to fill the void left by the suspension of the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. Though their time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) was short-lived, spanning just the 2016 and 2017 seasons, they managed to carve out a distinctive identity.

In terms of achievements, the Supergiants had a rather unremarkable debut season in 2016, finishing second to last in the league standings. However, they found their rhythm in 2017, a year marked by a remarkable turnaround. RPS reached the IPL final that year, facing the Mumbai Indians in what was to become a grippingly close contest. Unfortunately for Pune, they fell just short of the title, losing by a single run. Despite not claiming the trophy, reaching the final was an achievement that etched their name in the annals of IPL history.

The team was buoyed by some key players during its brief tenure, most notably the iconic Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who provided not just leadership but also significant contributions on the field and behind the stumps. Another notable player was Steve Smith, the Australian batting stalwart, who captained the side in 2017. Ajinkya Rahane, Ben Stokes, and Imran Tahir were also crucial figures, with Stokes, in particular, being pivotal with both bat and ball, adding a dynamic edge to their line-up.

Notable matches include the aforementioned IPL 2017 final against Mumbai Indians, as well as a few encounters with Royal Challengers Bangalore which captivated fans. The rivalry with RCB was an overlay of individual battles and spirited contests, adding a layer of excitement to the league.

RPS played their home matches at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, which provided them with a supportive crowd that brought a spirited atmosphere to the games. The fan culture, although nascent, was marked by a passionate support for MS Dhoni and a romantic hope for an underdog triumph.

Their playing style was an amalgam of aggressive batting, thanks to an array of talented stroke-makers, and sharp bowling, often optimised by the spin duo of Tahir and local talent that emerged through the ranks.

Though the RPS had a fleeting presence in the IPL, their impact was felt, echoing the transient beauty of a shooting star, which, during its brief existence, provided excitement and a hint of what might have been.