IPL 2017 playoffs: Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) match prediction

Mumbai Indians have everything going for them as we move into Qualifier 1 of the IPL 2017 playoffs against the Rising Pune Supergiant. They are in form, they have an almost full-strength squad and they will have the massive advantage of playing this game in front of their home crowd at the Wankhede.

That more than anything is what could tilt the match in the favour of the Mumbai Indians, while RPS also have to find solutions for missing big-name players, who will not be a part of the IPL 2017 playoffs.

With a place in the final at stake, expect both sides to go at full throttle from ball one.

Here is how MI vs RPS IPL 2017 Qualifier 1 could go.

If Mumbai Indians bat first:

Parthiv Patel and Lendl Simmons are off to a really good start on this flat-as-a-pancake wicket at the Wankhede. The two put on 54 runs together in just 4.5 overs, with Parthiv the first man out – to Lockie Ferguson.

Simmons carries on nicely with Ambati Rayudu coming in and giving a bit more solidity at the other end. While the run rate comes down a little in this partnership, MI remain locked and loaded for a big score.

When Simmons falls – to Adam Zampa – Rayudu takes over, with Rohit Sharma coming in and hitting a couple of gorgeous drives through extra cover, which has everyone at the Wankhede oohing and aahing.

With five overs to go, MI are on 143. A minimum of ten runs an over is required, but the Mumbai Indians go better, thanks to some big hitting from Krunal Pandya, with the batting team finishing on 202.

Chasing over 200 in a high-profile game like this is never easy, but RPS look determined. Ajinkya Rahane and Rahul Tripathi put on an eye-catching opening partnership, with Tripathi the aggressor while Rahane looks composed and calm at the other end, determined to see this chase through till the end.

Tripathi falls in the seventh over to Krunal, but Steve Smith comes in and decides to take the aggressive route, knowing Rahane is dropping anchor at the other end.

That works well and we get to see some shots from Smith that everyone thought he had thrown out of his locker – some of those innovative shots that had made him such an exciting player to watch.

Smith goes after a sparkling 36, with MS Dhoni coming to the crease with RPS needing to go at over 11 runs an over. Dhoni raises hopes of a ridiculous knock and chase when he smashes Harbhajan Singh for a four and a six in one over, and then takes Jasprit Bumrah for a couple of boundaries as well. But, just when the momentum seems to be with RPS, Dhoni loses his wicket.

Rahane soon follows suit as well, and from there the chase goes awry giving the Mumbai Indians a victory.

If RPS bat first:

Rahane and Tripathi start brightly, going at nearly ten runs an over in the Powerplay. Rahane, in particular, seems to be enjoying himself thoroughly on his home ground, and while the Wankhede crowd are backing the Mumbai Indians, they can do little but applaud the Mumbaikar, as he plays one beautiful stroke after another.

Tripathi is the first to fall, but RPS already have a solid base and it gets firmer when Smith comes in and adds quickfire 42.

Dhoni and Tiwary then smash a few sixes as well, as RPS, courtesy a brilliant 86 from Rahane, finish their innings on 198.

Parthiv falls in the first over of the chase as Jaydev Unadkat gets another wicket. The next over, however, is an expensive one, with Washington Sundar/Shardul Thakur (depending on who plays) taken for 18 runs by Simmons, who smashes the bowler for two sixes and a four.

Rayudu gets a couple of boundaries in the next over and MI are on their way in the chase.

When Rayudu is dismissed after a nice 31, the responsibility is on Simmons and Rohit to put on a big partnership. They oblige, and when Kieron Pollard, and, a couple of overs after that, Krunal, walk in, MI are left needing around 10 an over for victory.

That isn't a problem at all, with Hardik coming in in the final over and finishing the match off with a six straight back past the bowler.

Dhoni in smash mode