IPL 2017 Final, MI vs RPS: 5 players to watch out for

The final showdown of the tenth season of the Indian Premier League is hours away with Mumbai Indians and the Rising Pune Supergiant being the two teams who will be contesting it out at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.

After 46 days of riveting and jaw-dropping encounters, it all comes down to the one encounter where one team will be crowned the Champions and the other will have to go home with the second spot. Both Rising Pune Supergiant and Mumbai Indians have enthralled one and all with some stupendous cricket and both teams would love to finish on a high.

Going into the Finals, players from both sides have to stand up to the occasion, but there are few names which will be pivotal to their side’s road to glory. We take a look at them and how their performance could have an impact.

#5 MS Dhoni

M.S Dhoni hasn’t only been a part of a couple of World Cup winning squads for the Indian cricket team, but also led the Chennai Super Kings to two IPL victories. Needless to say that the man from Jharkhand, Ranchi is the most experienced when it comes to playing in the finals of big tournaments.

The hulking right-handed batsman hasn’t quite run out of gas and still possesses the skill set to turn a game on its head. Though he hasn’t displayed the same level of consistency he is known for, he has come up with sparks of brilliance.

Carting the bowlers in Pune’s erstwhile encounter with Mumbai at the Wankhede, Dhoni provided the impetus to the innings. For Rising Pune Supergiant to win the title, MSD has to bring all his experience to the fore to help Pune edge past the Mumbai Indians.

#4 Ajinkya Rahane

RPS need Rahane to set the pace early on

Though Ajinkya Rahane hasn’t set the Indian Premier League ablaze with the willow, he is certainly one player who can’t be dismissed out of sight. Opening for the Supergiant, Rahane has struggled to gain touch for the chunk of the tournament and hasn’t got the big scores frequently enough.

In the last match, he stitched together an impressive half-century at a decent strike rate, which is a healthy sign for Steven Smith and Co. With wickets falling at the other end, the Mumbaikar hardly lost his cool and showed an unflustered temperament.

The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad has been a batting paradise this season and Rahane’s return to form might just be the thing the Rising Pune Supergiant required, building up to the Finals.

#3 Karn Sharma

Sharma has benched Harbhajan Singh with his impressive spells

With Harbhajan Singh in the squad, Karn Sharma had been Mumbai Indian’s second choice. However, midway through the event, MI swapped Bhajji with Karn and it has paid dividends from the word go.

With 13 wickets from 8 games, Sharma has been able to add to the wickets column in addition to slowing down the run rate. Mumbai Indians must be delighted with the fact that the leg-spinner has peaked right before the Finals.

With a breathtaking spell of bowling against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 2, Sharma has garnered confidence and will want to replicate the same performance for Mumbai Indians to lift the Indian Premier League for the third time.

#2 Jasprit Bumrah

Bumrah’s death over bowling could be key tonight

Jasprit Bumrah has been Mumbai’s most consistent bowler in this edition of the IPL and Mumbai Indians would love him to finish with yet another match-winning spell in the all-important clash against the Rising Pune Supergiant in Hyderabad.

To the delight of the Mumbai Indians camp, the tall and lanky fast bowler has been among the wickets and has been Mumbai’s go-to man during crunch moments of a game. In the Qualifier 2 against Kolkata Knight Riders, Bumrah strangled every batsman and bowled 13 dot balls out of 18.

Against an in-form batting line-up of Pune, Bumrah has to fire all cylinders to set the tone for the Mumbai Indians. Early wickets will be the road ahead for Mumbai and quite expectantly the onus will be on Bumrah to dish out the wickets.

#1 Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar’s rise has been a big surprise

For a 17-year-old, playing in his debut IPL, Washington Sundar has impressed one all with his calm and composed head. Powerplays can be a nightmare for a spinner when opposition batsmen attempt to pick the bones out of every delivery.

But Sundar stuck to his basics, hit the right channel and has stopped the batsmen from going for outrageous shots to take advantage of the powerplays. Against the Mumbai Indians in Qualifier 1, the off-spinner had been on top of his game, churning out three vital scalps.

It won’t be surprising if Sundar is entrusted with the same responsibility by Steven Smith in the vital contest of the Indian Premier League.