06.50 pm: That will be all from us for this match, follow live blog of RCB vs SRH from Sharjah here.

Player of the match: Ishan Kishan (great innings, but disappointing that the bowlers who set up the win were not considered).

06.42 pm: “He’s getting there, he’s getting there,” says Kieron Pollard about Rohit Sharma’s fitness.

06.40 pm: Another big match coming up, RCB can seal their spot in the top four with a win while SRH will be eliminated if they lose. A SRH win ensures that the playoffs race will go to the final match.

Follow live blog here.

POINTS TABLE: Delhi remain third on 14 points but their NRR goes from +0.030 to -0.159, now worse than KXIP’s. Problems, problems for Delhi.

Team Pld Won Lost Net RR Pts
Q  Mumbai Indians 13 9 4 +1.296 18
2  Royal Challengers Bangalore 12 7 5 +0.048 14
3  Delhi Capitals 13 7 6 -0.159 14
4  Kings XI Punjab 13 6 7 -0.133 12
5  Rajasthan Royals 13 6 7 -0.377 12
6  Kolkata Knight Riders 13 6 7 -0.467 12
7  Sunrisers Hyderabad 12 5 7 +0.396 10
8  Chennai Super Kings 13 5 8 -0.532 10

FINISHING OFF IN STYLE: ISHAN KISHAN, SIX! The MI batsman, with a six into the top tier. Mumbai win by 9 wickets and assure themselves of a place in Qualifier 1. What a win. What a side.

After 14 overs, MI 105/1 (Ishan 66, Surya 12): A brilliant slog sweep by Ishan off Dubey, goes into the second tier. MI need just 6 more to win and DC’s NRR is about to drop below KXIP’s.

After 13 overs, MI 95/1 (Ishan 58, Surya 10): Ashwin finishes his spell with a 10-run over as Ishan hits a powerful shot down the ground for four. 0/18 are Ashwin’s figures.

FIFTY FOR ISHAN KISHAN! One ball after hitting Rabada for a brilliant six over cover, be reaches his 6th IPL half century. He’s been in great form and has made sure Rohit Sharma, the batsman, has not been missed much. MI 85/1.

After 11 overs, MI 74/1 (Ishan 42, Surya 5): A brilliant ramp behind the wickets by Surya to get going.

SKY is the new man in...

10.1 overs: WICKET! QdK plays a defensive push, the ball bounces on to the stumps and dislodges the bail before he could kick it away. Nortje strikes. 68/1.

After 10 overs, MI 68/0 (Ishan 41, Qdk 26): At the 10-over mark, this run-chase seems to be a mere formality. Ishan hits back-to-back boundaries off Dubey as MI move on to 68/0. Two well-timed, well-placed sweep shots.

After 9 overs, MI 56/0 (Ishan 31, Qdk 24): A gift from Harshal to Ishan on his pads to start his spell, put away for four. 50-run stand comes up in that over.

After 8 overs, MI 48/0 (Ishan 25, Qdk 23): QdK picks up six runs off the last two balls of what was shaping into a good first over from Dubey. A reverse sweep for four off the 5th ball.

Quite the start by Dubey: First ball, a close review for stumping against Ishan. Next ball, given out LBW and that is reviewed correctly. Overturned.

Timeout done and we’ll see Praveen Dubey for the first time in IPL...

After 7 overs, MI 41/0 (Ishan 24, Qdk 17): Another tidy over from Ashwin which had an interesting delivery (that we have seen a few times before in this tournament)

Ashwin channeling his inner Malinga

After 6 overs, MI 38/0 (Ishan 22, Qdk 16): Another powerplay without a wicket for Rabada in this tournament as Ishan hits him for back-to-back boundaries. Steady start for MI.

After 5 overs, MI 27/0 (Ishan 12, Qdk 15):Tidy first over from Stoinis, just singles.

After 4 overs, MI 23/0 (Ishan 10, Qdk 13): One four for Qdk (a lovely straight drive) and two for Ishan (muscled past mid-on, the second off the last ball almost going the distance) off Nortje’s over. The openers do love pace on the ball. MI’s chase is up and running after three quiet overs.

Nortje comes on...maybe MI will like the pace on the ball?

Correction: After 3 overs, MI 10/0 (Ishan 2, Qdk 8): Ashwin is tossing it up brilliantly and getting some turn and bounce. Just three singles from that over. DC wouldn’t mind this even if they would like a wicket or two.

After 2 overs, MI 10/0 (Ishan 2, Qdk 8): Ashwin is tossing it up brilliantly and getting some turn and bounce. Just three singles from that over. DC wouldn’t mind this even if they would like a wicket or two.

After 2 overs, MI 7/0 (Ishan 1, Qdk 6): A double and triple in that over for QdK. No early risks from MI.

IPL 2020 playoffs qualification scenarios explained here.

After 1 over, MI 2/0 (Ishan 1, Qdk 1): A single each for the MI openers as they play Ashwin’s first over out.

Ashwin to start off with two left-handers opening for MI...

Innings break: Problems mounting for Delhi. They have to try and defend 110/9 here but also make sure MI don’t win by a big margin because Delhi’s NRR has been taking a pounding over the last few matches.

Innings break: “I am always on my toes. I am ready to bowl any of the 20 overs,” says Jasprit Bumrah as he takes over the Purple Cap from Kagiso Rabada (perhaps temporarily). What a performance by him again.

After 20 overs, DC 110/9: Jasprit Bumrah finishes with a direct hit off the last ball to dismiss Kagiso Rabada and sensational figures of 3/17 off his four overs. For Delhi Capitals, another forgettable batting effort.

Bumrah has a chance for a five-for...

After 19 overs, DC 107/8: Rabada helps himself to a lovely six down the ground. DC batsmen, take note. A good over for Delhi despite the wicket. 11 off it.

After 18.1 overs, DC 96/8: What a catch! Krunal Pandya with a great running catch from long on to dismiss to Ashwin. Made good ground to his left and took the catch on the move. Boult has his 3rd.

Boult and Bumrah to finish this innings off...the Kiwi pacer on now.

After 18 overs, DC 96/7: Ashwin and Dubey seem to have decided no-risk cricket is the way to go now. DC perhaps want to play out 20 overs.

Krunal now. MI resorting to spin at the moment, even in the death overs.

After 17 overs, DC 90/7: The situation is so heavily in favour of MI that they can bring in a leg-spinner in the 17th over and he produces a 5-run over. Tidy from Chahar.

After 16 overs, DC 85/7: Ashwin gets going with a six over fine leg as NCN tries to bounce him. Upto the bowlers now to give themselves something to defend. Dubey, the debutant, at the other end.

Timeout taken. Wonder what Ponting has on his mind at the moment...

15.2, DC 78/7: WICKET! The procession continues and the last recognised batsman, Hetmyer, is now walking back. Coulter-Nile with the wicket. The pull shot finds Krunal in the deep.

After 14 overs, DC 73/6: PURPLE CAP FOR BUMRAH! Another over, another wicket for Bumrah. Harshal Patel is given out LBW and DC don’t have reviews left because Pant used it up on his way back. It would have saved Harshal. Bumrah matches Rabada’s tally, but has a better ER now.

After 13 overs, DC 69/5: Hetmyer survives a runout chance. Tidy over from Chahar.

After 12 overs, DC 63/5: Two wickets and a series of unplayable deliveries. One of the best overs of the tournament from Jasprit Bumrah. “Preserve that over,” says Harsha Bhogle.

Over 11.4: BOOM, BOOM, BUMRAH! Goes around the wicket to Rishabh Pant, gets the ball to seam back in sharply from length. The DC batsman is trapped in front and wastes the review on his way back. What an over by Jasprit Bumrah.

Overs 11.1: WICKET! Bumrah strikes! Stoinis is out for the fourth consecutive single-digit score in the tournament. 9, 6, 5 and 2 today. DC: 57/4

After 11 overs, DC 57/3 (Pant 17, Stoinis 2): A boundary for Pant to end Chahar’s over. But not long after Ponting wanted a big knock from Iyer, the DC captain is gone. Big blow for the Capitals.

10.2. DC 50/3: WICKET! Qdk does it again, sensational hands to catch Iyer’s backfoot in the air. R Chahar strikes straight away.

That’s a brilliantly appropriate GIF.

After 10 overs, DC 49/2 (Iyer 25, Pant 11): Harsha Bhogle said Ponting looked animated during the timeout and that reflected in Pant’s attitude in that over. Much more attacking, even if he couldn’t find the placement. Decent over still from NCN. Ponting wants Iyer to play a long innings here.

DROPPED! Powerfully struck by Pant off NCN, straight to Pollard at mid-wicket but it’s a rare drop by the MI captain.

After 9 overs, DC 44/2 (Iyer 23, Pant 8): Bumrah, as he does, concedes four singles in his over as Iyer and Pant don’t take any risks.

Bumrah, finally.

After 8 overs, DC 40/2 (Iyer 21, Pant 6): Finally, intent! Iyer hits the first six of the match with a lofted hit down the ground. His typical no-look style. Timed well, soars 89m into the stands.

After 7 overs, DC 28/2 (Iyer 11, Pant 4): One can understand DC wanting to rebuild but this approach is hurting them now, surely? Six from Krunal’s over.

After 6 overs, DC 22/2 (Iyer 9, Pant 2): how have DC allowed Jayant to bowl 2 overs for 6 runs in the powerplay? Geez. It’s a sensational powerplay for MI though.

Trent Boult: 3-0-10-2 

Krunal Pandya: 1-0-6-0 

Jayant Yadav: 2-0-6-0 

After 5 overs, DC 19/2 (Iyer 7, Pant 1): What a spell this is from Boult. Just a single from his third over in the powerplay.

Delhi’s opening stands in the last few games (as per the broadcasters): 4, 0, 0, 25, 0, 1

After 4 overs, DC 18/2 (Iyer 6, Pant 1): Jayant Yadav with his off-spin for the first time this IPL. Tidy start.

After 3 overs, DC 15/2: WICKET! Oh dear! Typical Prithvi Shaw, it must be said. A good-looking boundary, then a streaky one, and a top-edge that is taken by the wicketkeeper as he goes for one big shot too many. Trent Boult has his 2nd. Eight runs in that over and a wicket.

After 2 overs, DC 7/1 (Shaw 2, Iyer 4): Krunal comes in early to counter the two right-handers. Iyer plays a nice lofted drive for four to get going.

After walking into bat ridiculously low in the last match, Shreyas is in at No 3

After 1 over, DC 1/1: WICKET! Trent Boult strikes in the first over for MI, Dhawan’s out for a duck, his second on the trot. Surya with a great catch at point. Replays needed to make sure it was out, one of those not-enough-evidence to rule otherwise scenarios.

Shikhar Dhawan’s scores in last 7 innings: 69*, 57, 101*, 106*, 6, 0, 0 Back-to-back half centuries, then back-to-back centuries, now back-to-back zeroes.

Prithvi Shaw returns to the XI for Delhi. Can he find form again? Trent Boult to begin proceedings against his former side.

Milestone: In MI’s last match, Jasprit Bumrah made it a memorable 3-for during which he reached the 100-wicket milestone in IPL. 1st wicket: Kohli 100th wicket: Kohli.

Confirmation of the playing XIs:

Delhi Capitals:

Prithvi Shaw
Shikhar Dhawan
Shreyas Iyer (C)
Rishabh Pant (W)
Shimron Hetmyer
Marcus Stoinis
Pravin Dubey
Harshal Patel
Kagiso Rabada
Ravichandran Ashwin
Anrich Nortje 

Mumbai Indians:

Quinton de Kock (W)
Ishan Kishan
Suryakumar Yadav
Saurabh Tiwary
Jayant Yadav
Kieron Pollard (C)
Krunal Pandya
Nathan Coulter-Nile
Rahul Chahar
Trent Boult
Jasprit Bumrah

— via iplt20.com

Quick explanation of the playoff scenarios (detailed version is here..)

  • After looking like title favourites at one point, can DC still be eliminated from the playoffs race? Yes, yes they can be. But that won’t happen tonight either way. 
  •  MI can assure themselves a top-two finish with a win today.
  • Both DC and RCB can seal their spot in the playoffs today with a win in their respective matches.
  • Defeat for SRH ends their playoff hopes.   
  • Potentially, by the end of today, we could have three teams assured of a playoff spot. 
  • Conversely, if SRH beat RCB, the playoffs race is guaranteed to go to the final day of group stage. 

Milestone alert: Mumbai Indians are playing their 200th IPL match today.

Team news: Changes for both sides. MI, understandably, resting Hardik for this one. DC, meanwhile, have rung in the changes. Shaw comes back in, Dubey (who replaced Amit Mishra mid-way in the tournament) gets a game as Delhi want a leg-spinner in their ranks. Has the panic button been pressed?

TOSS NEWS: First of all, it is still Kieron Pollard captaining MI. Secondly, MI win the toss and opt to bowl. Iyer says DC wanted to bat first anyway.

02.55 pm: Hello and welcome to the live blog of match No 51 of Indian Premier League, season 13. It’s the clash between No 1 and No 3 on the table. Mumbai Indians, already assured of a place in the playoffs, take on Delhi Capitals, who have lost three in a row.

The points table right now is a sight to behold. Take a look at how close things are.

Points table after Match No 50

Team Pld Won Lost Net RR Pts
Q  Mumbai Indians 12 8 4 +1.186 16
2  Royal Challengers Bangalore 12 7 5 +0.048 14
3  Delhi Capitals 12 7 5 +0.030 14
4  Kings XI Punjab 13 6 7 -0.133 12
5  Rajasthan Royals 13 6 7 -0.377 12
6  Kolkata Knight Riders 13 6 7 -0.467 12
7  Sunrisers Hyderabad 12 5 7 +0.396 10
8  Chennai Super Kings 13 5 8 -0.532 10