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| Rising Pune Supergiant | |
|---|---|
| Name | Rising Pune Supergiant |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Dissolved | 2017 |
| Owner | Pune Warriors India (rebranded owners: Sanjay Raut, Sanjiv Goenka consortium) |
| Captain | MS Dhoni (2017), Steve Smith (2016) |
| Coach | Stephen Fleming |
| Home ground | Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium |
| Capacity | 37,406 |
| Competition | Indian Premier League |
Rising Pune Supergiant was a franchise cricket team that competed in the Indian Premier League for two seasons, fielding squads featuring international cricketers and Indian domestic talent. Launched as a replacement franchise amid legal and administrative changes in the Board of Control for Cricket in India ecosystem, the team played home matches primarily at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune, attracting involvement from prominent figures across the International Cricket Council‑affiliated cricket world. The franchise featured marquee leadership from players linked to Australia national cricket team, India national cricket team, and coaching staff with ties to New Zealand cricket.
The franchise emerged during a turbulent phase for Indian Premier League administration following the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals after the 2013 IPL scandal and subsequent legal actions by the Supreme Court of India. Conceived as one of two temporary teams alongside Gujarat Lions, the new Pune side was established by a consortium with business links to entities such as the erstwhile Pune Warriors India owners and investments associated with corporate groups in Mumbai and Delhi. The inaugural 2016 campaign featured captaincy by Steve Smith and coaching oversight from Stephen Fleming, with support staff drawn from networks tied to Cricket Australia, England and Wales Cricket Board, and New Zealand Cricket. In 2017 the franchise recruited Mahendra Singh Dhoni as captain following his departure from Chennai Super Kings leadership, and the team reached the Indian Premier League final against Mumbai Indians.
The team’s primary venue, the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Gahunje, hosted fixtures alongside neutral venues including the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and occasional matches at the Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi during scheduling adjustments. Administration and operations engaged with the Board of Control for Cricket in India for player auctions, compliance with IPL Governing Council regulations, and coordination with state associations such as the Mumbai Cricket Association and Maharashtra Cricket Association. Ownership and franchise management involved interactions with corporate stakeholders from Reliance Industries‑linked circles, regional investment firms from Pune and Maharashtra, and media rights holders represented by entities previously negotiating with Star India and global partners allied with the International Cricket Council broadcast networks.
The franchise adopted visual identity elements inspired by regional and pan‑Indian motifs, combining primary colors featured at matches with branding aligned to contemporary IPL merchandising trends comparable to those of Royal Challengers Bangalore, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Sunrisers Hyderabad. The logo and kit designs were produced through collaborations with sports marketing agencies experienced with campaigns for Manchester United‑style sponsorships and advertising firms that had worked on promotions for the Bcci and international series such as Border–Gavaskar Trophy. Matchday anthems and fan engagement initiatives involved regional artists linked to the Marathi film industry and promotional tie‑ups with entertainment properties in Bollywood.
In the 2016 season, the squad finished midtable under Steve Smith after a tournament that included wins against franchises such as Kings XI Punjab and Mumbai Indians; statistical contributions came from players associated with Australia national cricket team and South Africa national cricket team domestic circuits. The 2017 campaign was more successful, culminating in a runner‑up finish after progressing through playoffs and a final against Mumbai Indians, with standout performances from batsmen and bowlers who had international caps for India and Australia. Individual season statistics featured leading run‑scorers and wicket‑takers who appear on lists maintained by ESPNcricinfo and CricketArchive; team performance metrics included net run rate comparisons with Royal Challengers Bangalore and bowling economy rates measured against franchises like Delhi Daredevils.
Key players included captains linked to Australia national cricket team (Steve Smith) and India national cricket team (Mahendra Singh Dhoni), international signings from South Africa national cricket team, England cricket team and West Indies cricket team, and domestic talents from Mumbai domestic cricket and Maharashtra cricket. Coaching staff and consultants had affiliations with New Zealand cricket (coach Stephen Fleming), tactical analysts with prior roles at Chennai Super Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad, and support personnel who previously collaborated with franchises like Kolkata Knight Riders and Royal Challengers Bangalore in scouting and performance analysis.
Despite a brief existence, the franchise recorded notable match milestones including high individual scores and five‑wicket hauls by players who had represented India and Australia in international cricket. The 2017 season’s run to the Indian Premier League final marked the franchise’s peak competitive achievement, registering playoff victories over sides such as Rising Pune Supergiant's opponents from Kings XI Punjab and Gujarat Lions in that season’s fixtures. Team records were documented alongside IPL historical lists maintained by BCCI statisticians and independent archives like ESPNcricinfo.
The franchise operated amid controversies tied to the broader IPL legal landscape, including debates around temporary licences granted after the suspension of Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, ownership disputes in Pune Warriors India's prior exit, and media scrutiny over player retention and auction strategies. On‑field incidents drew attention in matches involving umpires and review system calls associated with Decision Review System controversies that also affected other franchises like Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders.
Category:Indian Premier League teams Category:Sport in Pune