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1. Ajinkya Rahane
Rahane was the leading scorer for the side in the last edition. The Mumbaikar scored 480 runs at 43.63 with six fifties.
He will be opening the RPS innings once again and team would be hoping him to come good with the bat again. Rahane will also be desperate to prove his mettle as an aggressive batsman before Champions Trophy 2017.
2. Faf du Plessis
The South African skipper couldn't do much for his franchise in the last season after he was ruled out of the tournament due to injury.
Du Plessis, thus, would be opening the RPS innings alongside Rahane. He is an explosive batsman and capable of destroying any bowling attack.
3. Steve Smith
The skipper would come in to bat at No. 3 for the RPS. Smith was in brilliant form in the previous season before being ruled out of the series.
The No.1 batsman in Test rankings will look to get over Australia's 1-2 loss against India in a draining Test series recently and start afresh.
Team would be hoping an inspiring performance from their skipper as they start their campaign in new season.
4. MS Dhoni
MS Dhoni is one of the biggest names in the IPL and thus he'll be the biggest crowd puller for the franchise.
He may have been stripped off the captaincy following team's poor show in the previous season, but Dhoni would be hoping to prove that he hasn't lost his sheen.
He would be eager to silence his critics with his batting and his unique glovework from behind the stumps. The team would also rely heavily on his inputs.
5. Manoj Tiwary
The Bengal cricketer had a good domestic season in 2016-17. The right-handed batsman would be present in the middle order to play some big hits if the team needs.
6. Ben Stokes
All eyes would be on this England all-rounder, who was bought for a whopping Rs 14.5 crore, and his performance with both the bat and ball will be equated with his hefty pay package.
Ben Stokes will be making his IPL debut tonight and the swashbuckler would hope to make his first game a memorable one.
7. Rajat Bhatia
The veteran cricketer will be strengthening team's lower order in the batting department. Skipper Steve Smith would hope him to complete his quota of 4 overs with the ball as well.
Bhatia was an economical and wicket-taking bowler in the previous season and team would be hoping similar show from him, this year as well.
8. Adam Zampa
The 24-year-old leg-spinner from Australia made his IPL debut last year by playing under the banner of Rising Pune Supergiant. The young New South Wales spinner was part of Australia's U-19 World Cup team in 2010.
In the 5 matches he played in 2016, Zampa got 12 wickets with 6/19 his personal best. Team and his skipper would expect similar performance from Zampa in the upcoming IPL season as well.
9. Jaydev Unadkat
The right-handed pacer from Saurashtra has been performing very well in the domestic circuit and has represented Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders, Royal Challengers Bangalore so far.
He has been a handy bowler and team would be relying upon him to pick up early wickets.
10. Ashok Dinda
Dinda generates decent pace and picks up wickets with that too. Off 75 games he has played he has picked up 67 wickets.
In 2016 season, he grabbed 11 wickets from 9 matches he played. Team would be hoping for a similar performance in the upcoming season too.
11. Ishwar Pandey
The right-arm pacer wasn't utilised by the team management in any game last year, but considering the fact that the team is short of a big pacer Pandey might get a chance in the playing XI.
He last played for the suspended Chennai Super Kings side.
Pandey, however, would face stiff competition from Mumbai pacer Shardul Thakur, who is a good swing bowler, for the final spot.
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