Big picture: Defending champions vs Serial winners

Gujarat Titans: LWWLW (last five completed games, most recent first)
Mumbai Indians: WWLWW

Team news: Worry for Titans seamers?

Titans played Darshan Nalkande against Super Kings for Yash Dayal, but Nalkande was hobbling after his bowling spell. If Nalkande is unfit, one could see Dayal coming back in. Titans could also bring in Josh Little as a replacement, but that would see Shanaka dropped. Little is a frontrunner for his experience and better bowling numbers compared to the uncapped Indians, more so in a knockout game.

With Tilak Varma returning to their side against Lucknow Super Giants, Mumbai have no injury concerns.

Impact Player strategy: What will Mumbai do?

Mumbai could use an extra batter - like in the Eliminator with Nehal Wadhera - and sacrifice an extra bowling option to give their first-innings total a push if they bat first. Otherwise, the default route is Suryakumar Yadav being used as an Impact sub for an Indian bowler.

Mumbai Indians (probable XII): 1 Ishan Kishan (wk), 2 Rohit Sharma (capt), 3 Cameron Green, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 Tilak Varma, 6 Tim David, 7 Hrithik Shokeen/Nehal Wadhera, 8 Chris Jordan, 9 Piyush Chawla, 10 Jason Behrendorff, 11 Akash Madhwal, 12 Kumar Kartikeya

Titans are likely to go with Vijay as the Impact Player in a chase or bring in a fast bowler if they are defending.

Gujarat Titans (probable XII): 1 Shubman Gill, 2 Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 3 Hardik Pandya (capt), 4 Vijay Shankar, 5 David Miller, 6 Sai Sudharsan/Abhinav Manohar, 7 Rahul Tewatia, 8 Rashid Khan, 9 Noor Ahmad, 10 Josh Little/Yash Dayal, 11 Mohit Sharma, 12 Mohammed Shami.

Stats that matter: Watch out for Rohit vs Rashid

It has touched 43 degrees in Ahmedabad. Curators have covered the pitch to ensure it doesn't break down abnormally. The pitch for the game is among the least used strips - the centre has nine surfaces - and is being brought in to seemingly provide a run fest.

It has been watered adequately to ensure some amount of moisture helps bind it underneath. The curator expects good pace and bounce like all season. Dew isn't expected to be a major factor, helped by the chemical they use to prevent its formation.