IPL 2017: Top 4 player encounters to look for in MI vs RPS

#2 Kieron Pollard vs Ben Stokes

Stokes’ form has waned in the IPL

The most vital cog in MI’s wagon against the most expensive foreign recruit in IPL’s history, this is a battle between 2 big all-rounders and match winners for their respective sides.

Round 1 of this battle was won by Stokes as RPS trumped MI in their first meeting, and in that match, Stokes had snared Pollard when he was starting to look dangerous, and Pollard then ended up conceding 30 in just 11 balls bowled which helped RPS seal a win in the last over.

Extra Cover: IPL 2017 MI vs RPS: Mumbai Indians (MI) Today's probable playing 11 against Rising Pune Supergiant (RPS)

This time though, the tables might well have turned. While Pollard’s form has improved since that match, Stokes’ has taken a dip as he has only scored one fifty in 6 matches this season. Whether it’s the pressure of the price tag or just plain poor form, we’d never know, but Pollard seems to be the better-placed player at the moment.

The all-rounder who has the better night in Mumbai might go a long way in deciding who wins this Maharashtra Derby!