IPL 2017 Qualifier 1 MI vs RPS: No Stokes, a Dhoni special at Wankhede, Bumrah yorkers and captain magic from Rohit

The IPL 2017 playoffs will kick off with Qualifier 2 on Tuesday, when the Mumbai Indians host the Rising Pune Supergiant at the Wankhede Stadium.

Mumbai Indians, the team that finished top of the IPL 2017 points table, have the advantage of playing this win-and-you-are-in-the-IPL-final game at home, but RPS have the upper hand in terms of recent results against this opposition.

Here are a few things to look forward to from Qualifier 1.

Stoke-less RPS to become rudderless RPS?

Whatever you say, however you look at it, RPS without Ben Stokes in the lineup looks considerably weaker. Yes, they did ok when Stokes was out injured for a couple of games in the league phase, but without Stokes, RPS will struggle considerably to find that match-winner with bat and ball.

The pressure will get cranked up on the specialists to deliver, because they know there won't be Stokes to bail them out with the bat or pick up that all-important wicket with the ball.

It will be interesting to see how RPS go without Stokes in the lineup.

Another MS Dhoni special at the Wankhede:

Think of the Wankhede and one of the first things that comes to mind is that Dhoni six to win India the World Cup title in 2011. In that final against Sri Lanka, Dhoni played one the great one-day innings in one of the most important matches of his career.

Now, this Qualifier 1 might not be anywhere near as important, but how wonderful it would be to see Dhoni playing another brilliant innings and finishing the match off with a trademark six over long-on.

Rohit Sharma to play a captain's innings:

Rohit has done reasonably well after coming from a long-term injury. In patches, Rohit has looked like the Rohit we all love to see – elegant, finessed and that class written all over every single shot he plays.

For the Mumbai Indians, he is usually the man for the big occasion, and don't be surprised if Rohit plays another one of his silky how-easy-he-makes-it-look innings.

Ajinkya Rahane to step up in his home ground:

Rahane has been one of the most disappointing players in IPL 2017. In 14 matches the India batsman has scored just 282 runs with just one half-century.

That is extremely poor by his standards. Maybe, he has been keeping all his good form for the playoffs and maybe the Wankhede will bring out the best in the Mumbaikar.

Jasprit Bumrah the yorker machine:

The Wankhede might be the graveyard of bowlers, especially in the T20 format, but, time and again, Bumrah has stepped up for MI. Be it by bowling yorkers or that slower ball that nobody seems to be able to pick, Bumrah has bene outstanding in IPL 2017, picking up 15 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 7.66.

If MI are to enter the final at the first time of asking, they need Bumrah to be at his best.

Wankhede pitch:

If the wicket is anything like the one from the last match, we are in for a run-feast, and then some.

That particular pitch, used for the first time in IPL 2017, was tailor-made for the batsman, with the ball coming on nicely and giving the bowlers absolutely no movement, swing or spin. KXIP posted 230/3 after batting first, with MI nearly pulling off the chase, before ending up just shy on 223/6.

So, expect plenty of sixes to rain into the Wankhede crowd on Tuesday.

MI players have a bit of fun in the pool