Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant clash in an playoff match that will decide the first finalist of IPL 2017. This Qualifier 1 at the Wankhede will be about giving the team a chance of getting some rest before the big final on Sunday.
While the loser will still have an opportunity to make it to the final when they meet the winner of the Eliminator – either Kolkata Knight Riders or Sunrisers Hyderabad – in Qualifier 2, both of these teams will not want to put themselves in a win-or-go-home situation.
Getting a victory on Tuesday and clinching that spot in the final will be the plan for both Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiant.
MI might have lost both their games to RPS in the league phase, but they still go into this Qualifier 1 as the favourites.
One of the big factors is that this match will be played at the Wankhede, MI's fortress, with another being that RPS will be without two of their most important players – Ben Stokes and Imran Tahir.
While the Rising Pune Supergiant have enough firepower to cope without these two stars, there is little doubt that when it comes to overall balance and depth, the Mumbai Indians have the advantage.
That advantage will mean nothing, of course, if the players don't show up on Tuesday, but going by the manner in which MI have gone about their business in IPL 2017 so far, it looks like RPS are going to have to play out of their skins, and then some, to lock their place in the IPL 2017 final.
To do that, the big players need to step up.
RPS have made it to the playoffs, despite some of their star players not having the greatest of times in IPL 2017.
Ajinkya Rahane has been a disappointment at the top, and maybe a game against the Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede, his home ground, is what he needs to rediscover his touch.
MS Dhoni has been brilliant in a few games, but you feel there is more there left in the tank, and RPS need their former captain to come to the fore on Tuesday.
Steve Smith has scored 420 runs already, but you get the feeling the skipper has not quite hit his best form yet in IPL 2017, and what better time to get into top gear than the playoffs.
If these batsmen fire for RPS, then they will give the Mumbai Indians a real run for their money.
The last pitch used at the Wankhede turned out to be a batsman's paradise, and if the same one is used again, the responsibility lies with the batsmen to score and score big.
As the Kings XI Punjab showed in the last match in Mumbai, it doesn't matter if you lose the toss, as long as you take full toll of your batting innings, and that will be something both MI and RPS will be telling themselves – go hard, go big and put the pressure on the opposition.
Where to watch live
MI vs RPS Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2017 playoffs is set to begin at 8pm IST, 3.30pm BST, 6.30pm GST, 10.30am ET. Live streaming and TV information is below.
India: TV: Sony Six, Sony Six HD (English), Sony ESPN, Sony ESPN HD (Tamil, Telugu, Bengali), Sony Max (Hindi). Live Streaming: Hotstar.
International: Live Streaming: Cricketgateway.
UK: TV: Sky Sports 1. Live Streaming: Watch Sky Sports.
Middle East: TV: OSN Sports Cricket. Live Streaming: OSN Play.
USA: TV: Willow TV. Live Streaming: Willow TV Online.
South Africa: TV: SuperSport Two. Live Streaming: SuperSport Live Video.
Parthiv Patel ready to take some spectacular catches
#MIcam@parthiv9 is gearing up for the qualifier!
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) May 15, 2017
Paltan, what's your plan for tomorrow's match? #CricketMeriJaan pic.twitter.com/xBo9wNwcpH
