What

The final league fixture of Pepsi IPL 2015 will be a do-or-die contest for the two competing teams –Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians.

Both teams are level on 14 points from 13 matches and a win will ensure a berth in the Playoffs. In their previous match, SRH lost a close one against Royal Challengers Bangalore. MI meanwhile have barely survived to stay in the race; in their most-recent outing against the Kolkata Knight Riders, they survived by the skin of the teeth, and handed the defending champions, who were cruising in their chase of 172 at one point, a shock defeat at the Wankhede Stadium.

Weather could play an important element in this match. With only one Playoff spot remaining –considering RCB as almost certain of making it to the next stage – both teams will hope the weather doesn’t play spoilsport, for that would pull the curtains down on their chances of progressing.

When

17 May 2015, 8p.m. IST

Where

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Hyderabad

The Protagonists

David Warner will do well to take a cue from Shane Watson’s innings on Saturday. In a high-pressure match, it is important that one of the well-set batsmen – especially among the top three – bats through most part of the twenty overs. Watson did that, posted a century, and helped RR seal their berth in the Playoffs. The Australian has been in scintillating form and currently holds the Orange Cap. Given how much rides on this match, the SRH skipper will be keen to stamp his authority on the contest.

Foremost among the many talented and dangerous batsmen in the Mumbai Indians lineup is their captain Rohit Sharma. The 28-year old is the team’s highest run-getter this season and has made runs consistently. The MI skipper has got starts in each of his last nine matches – but has not breached the 50-run mark and that is something he will look to change on Sunday. Given how much rides on this match, the skipper will be expected to take the lead, walk out at number three and bat through to the end of the innings.

Among the bowlers, the home side will be hoping Bhuvneshwar Kumar can work his magic on the MI batsmen, just like he did in the previous meeting in Mumbai, while the four overs of Lasith Malinga will be absolutely crucial for the visitors.

Contests to look-forward to

There is a bit of a history between Dale Steyn and Rohit Sharma in international cricket. The South African has bowled a couple of sensational spells against the Indian batsman, but has only one dismissal to show for in international cricket and one dismissal to show for in the IPL. They did not come up against each other in the first meeting in Mumbai. Given how much rides on this match, both players will be keen to assert themselves on the other.

The other contest to look forward to is between MI’s Harbhajan Singh and the SRH openers – David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan. The two SRH left-handers have been in good form, while Harbhajan Singh has developed this knack of picking up the big fish in the opposition ranks.

Previous Meetings

The Mumbai Indians have a 3-2 win-loss record from five IPL matches against Sunrisers Hyderabad. When these two teams met in Mumbai earlier this season, MI posted 157-8 and then restricted the visitors to 137-8, thanks to some clinical bowling from their quicks. Lasith Malinga picked up four wickets, while Mitchell McClenaghan returned figures of 3 for 20.

Trivia

No bowler has dismissed more opening batsmen in Pepsi IPL 2015 than Harbhajan Singh. The MI off-spinner has dismissed 10 openers this season.

As an opening pair, David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan have been the most prolific in Pepsi IPL 2015; in the 13 innings they’ve opened together, they’ve added 615 runs as a pair at an average of 47.30, which includes a century partnership and four other partnerships of 50 or more.

What Next

The Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians will only know what the future holds for them depending on the outcome of this match and how the Pepsi IPL 2015 points table shapes up. The first of the Playoff matches – featuring the top two teams in the table will be played in Mumbai on May 19, while the Eliminator – featuring the third and fourth placed teams – will be played in Mumbai on May 20.