The toss is set to play a big role on Friday as the Mumbai Indians and the Kolkata Knight Riders clash in Qualifier 2 of the IPL 2017 playoffs.
With Bengaluru expected to receive more rain, that flip of the coin could decide which team goes on to play the Rising Pune Supergiant in the IPL 2017 final.
Chasing sides always have the advantage in a curtailed game, and if rain does come into play – and the forecast suggests just that, with 60% chance of rain for Friday – then there is little doubt that the team that win the toss will want to bowl first.
Both these teams prefer chasing anyway, and even on a tacky, can't-hit-the-sixes-at-will pitch at the Chinnaswamy, MI and KKR will want to give themselves a target to haul down rather than putting up a score on the board.
The Kolkata Knight Riders, coming off an impressive win over the Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Eliminator on Wednesday, have been dealt a blow with Manish Pandey ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2017, after picking up a side strain during training.
KKR did well without Pandey in the team in the win over SRH, but then, they only had to bat six overs after rain delayed the second innings by over three hours.
Ishank Jaggi and Suryakumar Yadav were the ones to come in for the Eliminator against SRH, and it will be interesting to see if both those players keep their place in the team.
KKR did really well with the five specialist bowlers in the last game, with Yusuf Pathan chipping in with a single over. If Gautam Gambhir feels the need for an extra bowling option, he could bring Kuldeep Yadav back in, with either Jaggi or Suryakumar sitting out.
However, that will leave the batting a little thin, which could then mean Colin de Grandhomme replacing Trent Boult in the KKR playing XI.
The Mumbai Indians put on what their skipper Rohit Sharma said was the "poorest batting performance" of IPL 2017 in Qualifier 1, so they will want to give a much more convincing second and last bite to the cherry this time around.
Owing to the large number of right-handers in the RPS batting lineup, Harbhajan Singh was left out of the MI playing XI, but the off-spinner could come back in, particularly considering the slow nature of the Chinnaswamy pitch.
If Harbhajan is picked, it will be for Karn Sharma.
Apart from that one change, MI should stick with the same playing XI, with Ambati Rayudu expected to keep his place ahead of Nitish Rana, despite failing in the last game.
Confirmed playing XI:
Mumbai Indians: Lendl Simmons, Parthiv Patel, Rohit Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Kieron Pollard, Krunal Pandya, Hardik Pandya, Karn Sharma, Mitchell Johnson, Jasprit Bumrah, Lasith Malinga.
Kolkata Knight Riders: Chris Lynn, Sunil Narine, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Ishank Jaggi, Suryakumar Yadav, Colin de Grandhomme, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Piyush Chawla, Umesh Yadav, Ankit Rajpoot.
