Sporting Cap | Sahara Pune Warriors

Sahara Pune Warriors

The new kids on the block went big, really big, to not only buy the team but to also tie a couple household Indian names down for the next couple of years. After splashing $370m – the highest price for any team to date – to win the bid, they forked out again to get the players they wanted.

Yuvraj Singh at $1.8m will seem like a bargain after the World Cup he has just had but you have to question the purchase of Robin Uthappa for $2.1m and Ashish Nehra for $850,000.

Team Facts

Coach:	Geoff Marsh
Founded:	March 21, 2010
Home ground:	Pune International Cricket Centre (Capacity: 55000)
Owner:	Sahara Group
Website:	www.punewarriorsindia.com

» TEAM PROFILE

Abhishek Jhunjhunwala
Alfonso Thomas
Angelo Mathews
Ashish Nehra
Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Callum Ferguson
Dheeraj Jadhav
Eklavya Dwivedi
Ganesh Gaikwad
Graeme Smith
Harpreet Singh
Harshad Khadiwale
Imtiyaz Ahmed
Jerome Taylor
Jesse Ryder
Kamran Khan
Manish Pandey
Mitchell Marsh
Mithun Manhas
Mohnish Mishra
Murali Kartik
Nathan McCullum
Rahul Sharma
Robin Uthappa
Sachin Rana

» STENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Strengths
They have a couple of impressive all-rounders on their books, with captain Yuvraj leading the way. Impressive Sri Lankan Angelo Mathews, Mitchell Marsh of Australia as well as Black Caps duo Jesse Ryder and Nathan McCullum are also capable of chipping in with runs or bowling a few overs. Even Alfonso Thomas and Callum Ferguson can play crucial roles with either bat or ball.

Weaknesses
On paper a fast-medium bowling attack consisting of Nehra, Wayne Parnell, Jerome Taylor, Kamran Khan, Harpreet Singh and Thomas is excellent but when you take a closer look there are a few question marks over them. Parnell and Taylor are injury-prone. The South African hasn’t been too impressive since coming back from injury, while Taylor hasn’t played cricket in a while. Kamran and Harpreet on the other hand are relatively young at this level. Kamran was brilliant before he was reported for having a suspect action and then sat out the whole of the 2010 campaign.

» FIXTURES

Home Matches

Apr 10, 2011 Sunday	Punjab Kings (Dr DY Patil Stadium)	Pune Warriors won by 7 wickets
Apr 13, 2011 Wednesday	Kochi Tuskers Kerala (Dr DY Patil Stadium)	Pune Warriors won by 4 wickets
Apr 17, 2011 Sunday	Delhi Daredevils (Dr DY Patil Stadium)
Apr 27, 2011 Wednesday	Chennai Super Kings (Dr DY Patil Stadium)
May 04, 2011 Wednesday	Mumbai Indians (Dr DY Patil Stadium)
May 16, 2011 Monday	Deccan Chargers
May 19, 2011 Thursday	Kolkata Knight Riders

Away Matches

Apr 20, 2011 Wednesday	Mumbai Indians (Mumbai)
Apr 25, 2011 Monday	Chennai Super Kings (Chennai)
Apr 29, 2011 Friday	Royal Challengers (Bangalore)
May 01, 2011 Sunday	Rajasthan Royals (Jaipur)
May 08, 2011 Sunday	Punjab Kings (Mohali)
May 10, 2011 Tuesday	Deccan Chargers (Hyderabad)
May 21, 2011 Saturday	Delhi Daredevils (Delhi)