Ben Stokes, RPS, IPL 2017, playoffs, Qualifier 1
Ben Stokes is a difficult man to replace for RPSIANS

Ben Stokes, Ben Stokes, Ben Stokes – that will be the name everyone will be thinking of as the Mumbai Indians take the field against the Rising Pune Supergiant in the first match of the IPL 2017 playoffs.

Qualifier 1 is the only match in the playoffs that isn't do-or-die. It gives the winner a straight passage into the IPL 2017 final and the loser another crack at making the finale.

With this game being played at the Wankhede, the odds are certainly with the Mumbai Indians, more so because RPS will be without their best player in IPL 2017.

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Stokes flew back to the UK after the final league game of the Indian Premier League season, in order to prepare for an ODI series against South Africa and then the ICC Champions Trophy.

While Jos Buttler, like Stokes, also had to fly back, MI, knowing that the right-hander would not be a part of the playoffs, gave Lendl Simmons an opportunity to get into his groove.

Buttler was an important cog in the MI wheel, but Stokes is a much more important player for RPS.

His all-round abilities have been one of the main reasons behind the Rising Pune Supergiant's surge up the IPL 2017 points table.

Without Stokes, RPS need to find a player who can perform with the bat and ball.

That might not happen.

What is likely is that RPS will back their specialists – with bat and ball – to make up for the loss of Stokes.

Imran Tahir, RPS, AB De Villiers, RCB, IPL 2017
Imran Tahir is another big miss for RPSIANS

RPS have the option of bringing Lockie Ferguson back, with the New Zealander unlucky to miss out on so many matches, considering the last time he got an opportunity, he put in a man-of-the-match bowling performance.

The other option would be to play a batsman in Usman Khawaja, but that would be fraught with risk, since the Australian hasn't played a single game in IPL 2017, and experienced or not, bringing someone in from the cold like that could really backfire, particularly in the Wankhede cauldron.

Faf Du Plessis, who would have been a good option at this point, has also left to join up with the South Africa squad along with Imran Tahir, who like Stokes, has been vital to the RPS cause in IPL 2017.

If Khawaja plays, then RPS will go with the same bowling unit that has done so well in recent times, but if Ferguson is brought in, it could mean either Washington Sundar or Shardul Thakur, who took three wickets in the win over KXIP, sitting out.

Ambati Rayudu, Mumbai Indians, IPL 2017, KKR, playoffs
Ambati Rayudu will hope to his spot in the Mumbai Indians playing XIIANS

The Mumbai Indians made six changes to their lineup in the last game, knowing a top two place was pretty much secured already, and still beat KKR to clinch the No.1 spot in the IPL 2017 points table.

With this match being played at home, there will be the pressure of expectation on MI, who start this game as the obvious favourites.

Jasprit Bumrah, Parthiv Patel, Lasith Malinga, Mitchell McClenaghan, Nitish Rana and Harbhajan Singh were all rested for the final league game, and five of them are certain to return.

The only question mark revolves around Rana, who has struggled in the second half of IPL 2017. With Ambati Rayudu coming in and hitting a sparkling half-century, it would make sense to stick with the more experienced batsman, especially in such a big game.

With Krunal Pandya coming back from injury, the balance of the MI playing XI improves considerably, with Karn Sharma the man likely to have to sit out as a result.

Confirmed playing XI:

Mumbai Indians: Parthiv Patel, Lendl Simmons, Ambati Rayudu, Rohit Sharma (C), Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Karn Sharma, Mitchell McClenaghan, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga.

 

Rising Pune Supergiant: Ajinkya Rahane, Rahul Tripathi, Steve Smith (C), Manoj Tiwary, MS Dhoni, Dan Christian, Washington Sundar, Shardul Thakur, Lockie Ferguson, Jaydev Unadkat, Adam Zampa.