Will the Warriors live up to the name?

It’s tough to stop Uthappa when he gets into the rhythm
Yuvraj Singh and Robin Uthappa are ideal one-day players who can be a big asset for the Sahara Pune Warriors. All-rounder Uthappa is excellent as an opener and Yuvraj, who may come fourth in the order, can be destructive. Uthappa is a hard hitter; it is difficult to stop him when he gets into the rhythm of hitting over the boundary. A middle-order batsman and brilliant fielder, Yuvraj has also proved to be a good spin bowler for the Indian cricket team. We also have Tim Paine from Australia, who is a top-order batsman and wicketkeeper. Left-arm fast bowler Ashish Nehra and left-arm spinner Murali Kartik are good and have performed well in one-day matches. Moreover, they are in form right now. The overall bowling attack looks strong with Nehra, Kartik, Angelo Mathews and Jerome Taylor who is a terrific fast bowler. The Pune team has got a good deal in terms of all-rounders. In the Twenty20 format, it is important to focus on good fielding to curb the batting attack. For batsmen, good running between the wickets also plays a major role in adding to the final score. All in all, it is a very good draw of players for the Sahara Pune Warriors. It will be interesting to watch them perform.
Chandu Borde, former chairman, BCCI selection committee

Yuvraj Singh is a match-winner and can play a pivotal role
The Sahara Pune Warriors have got good picks as a new team entering the league. It now depends on how the coaches prepare the players for the matches that start in May. Since it will be summer then, the wickets will turn because it will be dry. So, we will need a first-class middle order and players who understand the Indian wicket during this time of the year. The coaches and selectors will not look for too many international players now. Finally, it all comes down to the strategies that coaches adopt to play. Yuvraj Singh is a match-winning player, who can play a pivotal role in the team. We have three or four impact players; this is good enough compared to the other teams. Moreover, this is just the top order that has been finalised and the domestic players are yet to be picked. It will be really exciting for cricket fans in Pune to watch their players perform in the upcoming tournament. Till now, the team has a good balance of all-rounders and bowlers. Surendra Bhave, former Maharashtra cricket captain

The bowling line-up of the team is definitely impressive
The selection of Indian and international players is a good combination of all-rounders, batsmen and bowlers. Yuvraj Singh is a very good pick for the Pune team. He is a match-winning player and is in very good form now. A prize catch for Sahara Pune Warriors, Yuvraj is a quality all-rounder and has an impressive record in Twenty20 matches.

An all-rounder and big hitter, Uthappa has done quite well in many one-day series and domestic cricket in Karnataka last year. A young and fearless player, we will have to see how his current form helps him in the upcoming tournament.

Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik has a record of being an economical bowler and has been performing well. The bowling line-up is impressive with Sri Lankan right-arm fast-medium bowler Angelo Mathews, left-arm fast bowler Ashish Nehra and Australian medium-pacer Callum Ferguson.  

The Pune team also has top-order Australian batsman and wicketkeeper Tim Paine, who is presently in outstanding form. It all depends on how the players and game conditions are evaluated to come up with strategies. Domestic players will also join the team; that could be a deciding factor but overall the team looks good.
Riyaz Bawan, tournament secretary, Maharashtra Cricket Association

Making Yuvraj the captain could hamper his performance
It’s the first time that Pune will be a part of the IPL, so it is going to be an exciting tournament for cricket fans in the city, as they will have a team to cheer and watch out for. The overall selection is impressive, but it boils down to how they actually perform. We have an aggressive player like Yuvraj Singh, who is experienced in first-class cricket. However, I don’t think he should be made captain. Giving him the responsibility of leading the team could hamper his performance. Graeme Smith would be the right choice for captain as he is experienced and also leads the South African team. Everyone would want the Pune team to reach the finals. However, just the idea of Pune being in the IPL is reason enough for us to cheer.
Kavita Patil, state-level cricket player

Most players are all-rounders; this will benefit the team
I expect the Indian players to give their best. The Pune team has invested intelligently in players like Yuvraj Singh, Ashish Nehra and Robin Uthappa. Most of the players are all-rounders, so it would work to the team’s benefit. However, I think the Pune team needs a good opening pair that will stay at that position throughout the season. Graeme Smith can be one of the openers. Moreover, I feel that Uthappa should not be the wicketkeeper as he is a top-class fielder apart from being a knock-out hitter in the lower middle order. Overall, Pune is better off compared to the other teams. It all depends on who leads and how the team works on its strategies. The fate of the team will be decided by the position at which players are placed. I am anticipating quality selection at the local level as well. The team will be a good mixture of international, national and local players. This will give it the confidence it needs to perform well. I hope one of our local players performs fantastically, so that our presence as a team is felt this season. Harshad Joshi, engineer

I hope Graeme Smith leads us to victory, like he did for Rajasthan
Iam happy they chose Robin Uthappa as he is a good opener and strike batsman. He always tries to go for the big shots, which will prove favourable for the Pune team. Yuvraj Singh is kind of out of form, but he can be quite unpredictable. His performance in the Twenty20 matches has been consistent, which makes him a dependable player. If he is in form, he can change the outcome of a match.

Murali Kartik is a spinner, so he has good scope in the Twenty20 format. We also have South African captain Graeme Smith, who had a major role to play in the Rajasthan Royals’ win in the first season.

Everyone is expecting an excellent performance from him. He always gives 100% to his team and I hope he leads the Pune team to victory this time. Jerome Taylor is an experienced player and has a good record that will work in our team’s favour. If we look at the team in totality, there are no star performers that we can pin our hopes on. There are many all-rounders, but their recent performances have not been impressive. However, it is a young team so we can hope for a good show like the one Rajasthan Royals put up in the first season. This time, we will have a team to cheer for; that’s the best part.
Arvind Nishad, student

It is best to remain optimistic as this is their first time
The local players have not been finalised as yet, but the selection has been satisfactory so far. Yuvraj Singh has the experience of leading; this will benefit our team immensely. His performance has not been consistent because of his problems with the team management. The tension reflected badly on his game. Now that everything has been resolved and he has new co-players and a new team to play for, his performance should improve drastically. Uthappa has performed well in the earlier seasons; even he is a player to look out for. I think we have a good balance of bowlers and batsmen. And I am personally looking forward to Nehra’s bowling. He has been good till now, so I want to see what he brings to our team. Pune Warriors also has experienced international players who will help the team perform better. The team’s performance cannot be anticipated as this is their first time on the field. I hope we provide tough competition and put up a good show. It is best to remain optimistic.
Umashankar Devdhe, lecturer

Yuvraj Singh will be an excellent choice for captain
I am excited about Yuvraj Singh being selected for the Pune team. I am sure he will prove to be a pillar of strength for us. The team’s logo is a warrior with a sword. Yuvraj Singh certainly suits that image. His aggressive game is something to look out for. If he is made the captain, it will add to the team’s fighting spirit. He will be an excellent player to lead the Sahara Pune Warriors. Robin Uthappa’s mind game is powerful on the field. He plays well when it is needed the most. So, he can act as a saviour. Nathan McCullum is an all-rounder, but he cannot play when there is tension on the field. We will see what attitude he brings to this team now.

Graeme Smith is another player whose game is remarkable. His style and overall performance make South Africa’s team what it is today. I am expecting him to bring a striking edge to the Pune team as well. We have a good mix of batsmen, all-rounders and bowlers; this is definitely an advantage for a team that is going to debut this season. Add local talent to this and our warriors will definitely give a noteworthy performance.
Ganesh Jadhav, student

I’m sure we will reach the semis as we have a good mix of players
The Pune team is well balanced with all-rounders, in addition to good batting and bowling line-ups. What strikes me the most is that there are more international than Indian players in the team. However, when domestic players join, the equation will change.

Yuvraj Singh is a good choice for this team. Though he did not perform well in the last IPL season, he has to do well this time as he is also part of the Indian World Cup squad. He will be perfect as the captain because he is capable and experienced. Robin Uthappa will prove to be a good choice as opener. Moreover, he has an impressive record in the Twenty20 format. The maturity of the players and their experience in international cricket will matter the most. I do not know if the Pune team will win this time, but I am sure we will reach the semi-finals with the players we have selected. Sarang Dixit, software engineer