Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) will contest in the season-ending Grand Finale. The two sides will contest in the Maharashtra Derby for the fourth time this season and one of them will be crowned VIVO IPL 2017 Champions.

RPS took the shorter route to the Final after defeating their neighbours MI in Qualifier 1. Steven Smith’s team has had a fabulous season — in stark contrast to their performance last season; they recovered from a slow start and established momentum as the season has unfurled. There have been a handful of sensational performances from RPS players along the way, but by and large the team has ridden on useful contributions all-round.

MI ended the league stage as table-toppers. But they lost the first of the playoff matches and hence had to take a slightly longer route to the Final.

In Qualifier 2 on Friday night, they were aggressive, executed their skills to the ‘T’ and defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders quite convincingly. MI begin favourites in this title clash — for they have good balance and several match-winners in their ranks. Also, several MI players have the experience of playing in an IPL Final, and that experience — of knowing how to overcome the big-game jitters — should serve MI in good stead.

MI have already won the IPL title twice — once in 2013 and then in 2015. Can they become the first team to win three IPL titles, or will the underdogs — a young and inexperienced RPS — cause an upset and clinch their maiden title?

Today’s Match

Rising Pune Supergiant

Vs

Mumbai Indians (MI)

Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket

Stadium, Hyderabad, 8 pm