A point separates Mumbai Indians and the Royal Challengers Bangalore, and with that IPL 2015 top four spot getting ever crowded, a win will be paramount for both these sides to stay a level above the competition.
Both MI and RCB have worked up a head of steam in their last few games, with Mumbai, on a brilliant five-match winning run, the form team of IPL 2015.
Rohit Sharma's side managed something no team had been able to do so far this season – beat CSK in Chennai –and having pulled off the near impossible there, MI will be confident of doing the business at home against RCB.
"It has been a great turnaround and full credit to the players," MI coach Ricky Ponting told IPL's official website. "We have worked really hard -- we worked hard before the first game as well, but things didn't quite go to plan.
"We knew that if we can string a couple of wins together, we will be able to come back strong. Full credit to the players to show that kind of character when our backs were to the wall."
The win over CSK was an incredible one, with MI coming out of nowhere to take two points. It was the 19th over that turned the game for the Mumbai Indians in a relatively small chase, with Hardik Pandya slamming Pawan Negi for three sixes in the same over – Ambati Rayudu would also latch onto one – to win his team the game.
Contributions, and winning ones at that, are coming from all over for MI, which will be heartening for the management, but the most important of all over the last few games has been from Rayudu, who has regained his touch again, time and again guiding his side to victory.
RCB, a point behind of MI having played a game less, will need to stop the MI juggernaut to keep their playoff hopes on course, and they will, of course, bank on their main man in Chris Gayle to come to the fore again.
The last time the West Indian came out to bat, he hit an amazing century, and with the Wankhede pitch tailor-made for batsmen, MI better hang onto those catches, or it could be a long day. And if Gayle doesn't fire, there is Virat Kohli and AB De Villiers to back him up, while there is also Mitchell Starc with the ball, which is what makes RCB such a dangerous side.
Where to Watch Live
Get the Match Highlights HERE
The IPL 2015 match is set to begin at 4 pm IST (11.30 am BST, 6.30 am ET). Sony Max, Sony Six, Sony Aath and Sony Kix will show the match live on TV in India, while the online live streaming option is on Stasports.com and Hotstar.
ESPN is the channel to flip to watch the game in the US, while KKR vs DD can also be live streamed on ESPN Cricket. Audience in the UK can catch the match live on Sky Sports2, with the live stream option on Sky Go and Watch Sky Sports. Viewers around the world can go to Cricketgateway.com to watch live MI vs RCB in IPL 2015.
