IPL 10 playoffs: Mumbai-Pune face off in Maharashtra derby

From some of the most prolific batsmen failing constantly to some raw young talents making their mark, from some of the easiest catches being put down to some of the near-impossible ones pulled off, the 10th edition of the cash-rich Indian Premiere League (IPL) was full of surprises and shocks.

After 39 action-packed days, this season of the IPL has reached the concluding part with the top-four teams now looking to seal a berth in the final.

Mumbai Indians (MI) and Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS), who have finished as the number one and two team respectively on the table, will look to take a giant leap and reach the all-important finals without any further hiccups when they face each other in the first qualifier at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday.

MI, in the past few seasons, were in the habit of losing the initial games before bouncing back in the later stages of the tournament. This season, however, the Rohit Sharma-led side finished at the top of the table, winning 10 out of its 14 matches, also becoming the first franchise to secure a play-off berth.

RPS, comparatively, has had a more inconsistent season and had to win its last match against Kings XI Punjab (KXIP) to secure the second position, winning nine out of 14 matches. Had they lost their last encounter, KXIP would have had displaced them in the top four as SRH would have taken the second spot.

Head to head: It’s advantage Pune

In the four matches played between the two sides over the last two seasons, RPS has defeated the mighty Mumbai Indians thrice. Interestingly, out of the four defeats that Mumbai tasted this season, two of them came against the Steve Smith-led side. RPS is undefeated against MI this season.

Pune to miss Stokes, Tahrir

Although RPS has defeated MI three out of four times, they will be missing the services of their star all-rounder Ben Stokes and Imran Tahir as the England and South Africa players have left the country for national duties. Mumbai Indians, too, will be missing the services of their flamboyant opener, Jos Buttler, even though they have an in-form replacement in Lendl Simmons at the top of the order.

RPS will be a more concerned team as Stokes has been exceptional with the bat, with the ball and in the field. He has amassed a total of 316 runs in 12 matches, including a match winning century (103 not out) against Gujarat Lions. He has also picked up 12 wickets this season, at an economy of just over seven.

Pitch and toss

The Mumbai pitch is believed to assist fast bowlers in the beginning and as the game progresses, spinners get some help. However, the average first innings total this season in Mumbai has been above 160, with the team batting second emerging victorious four out of seven times. The team winning the toss will look to bat first, given the records and the importance of the game as the winner directly reaches the final.

The ‘fortress’ advantage

Wankhede Stadium has been Mumbai’s fortress all along since the first IPL season. However, RPS conquered the fortress this season, against the tide, when it was least expected. Mumbai was on a riot winning six out of their seven matches when RPS visited Mumbai. The only loss for MI, however, had come in their opening fixture against the visiting side in Pune.

Though RPS is without the services of its most valuable player, Ben Stokes, it will nevertheless fancy its chances as it is the only team—other than KXIP—to defeat the tournament favourites in their home turf, Mumbai.

Match result and road ahead

The winner of the match between MI and RPS will directly reach the finals, while the loser will get another chance to secure a final birth when they will face the winner of the eliminator between Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad, to be played in Bangalore’s M Chinnaswamy Stadium on May 17.

Schedule for the playoffs

May 16, 2017, Qualifier 1: Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiant, Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai

May 17, 2017: Eliminator: Sunrisers Hyderabad vs Kolkata Knight Riders, M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

May 19, 2017, Qualifier 2: TBC (Loser of Qualifier 1) vs TBC (Winner of Eliminator), M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore

May 21, 2017, Final: TBC (Winner of Qualifier 1) vs TBC (Winner of Qualifier 2), Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Hyderabad