IPL 2017: Rising Pune Supergiants to play all 7 home games in Pune

Rising Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka said that the crowd support in their home stadium will help in getting the best out of the team in the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) season

Having played four games in front of their home fans in Pune during their debut season in the Indian Premier League (IPL) in 2016, Rising Pune Supergiants owner Sanjiv Goenka has said that the team will play all seven of their home matches in the city this coming season.

Rising Pune Supergiants captain Steve Smith (L) and key players Ben Stokes (C) and Ajinkya Rahane will be keen to lead the side to the playoffs in this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL) and the home support in Pune could prove crucial in the campaign.(AFP)

Speaking to reporters at the team’s pre-season press conference on Thursday, Goenka said the crowd support in Pune will help in bringing the best out of the Steve Smith-led team.

“Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) and the Pune District Cricket Association have been phenomenal in their support and their guidance. Pune is a great city and has a lovely crowd. We are delighted to be there.

“We are delighted that we are playing all our seven home games there. I think it will bring much more out from the team because the crowd support is huge,” Goenka added.

Last season, the severe drought situation in Maharashtra had seen games scheduled for the second half of the season being moved out of Pune and Mumbai, as per a Bombay High Court ruling.

This time around, the RPS team management is confident of playing all their home games at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune.

When asked if the team had any contingency plan if a situation like last year arose, Goenka said, “So far, our impression is that all our home games will be in Pune. That’s what we are looking at.”

As per the official fixtures, five of the seven home games of RPS have been scheduled for April, with only two of them being scheduled for May.