Mumbai and Bangalore have just two victories from seven matches each, but the former are ahead on the points table, in sixth place, due to a better net run-rate.
Struggling Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bangalore will fight for survival when they lock horns in Tuesday's Indian Premier League match in Bengaluru.
Having beaten Chennai Super Kings at their adopted home ground in Pune, Mumbai Indians, despite the heartbreaking back-to-back defeats at the hands of CSK and Kolkata Knight Riders in their backyard, have their tails up and the confidence to take on the strong Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up, which has the likes of Virat Kohli and Brendon McCllum.
RCB, though, will have to play out of their skins to stay in the competition.
It's been an almost identical journey for both teams so far. Mumbai and Bangalore have just two victories from seven matches each, but the visitors are ahead, in sixth place, on the points table due to a better net run-rate.
The team that loses on Tuesday will find it difficult to get a shot at a play-offs berth.
Mumbai would like to take a cue from their last encounter against RCB, which they won by 46 runs, at the Wankhede stadium, Rohit Sharma and Evin Lewis hitting 94 and 65 respectively.
Barring Suryakumar Yadav, who has 274 runs under his belt from seven matches as an opener, most of the Mumbai batsmen have been inconsistent.
Captain Rohit, who had failed to get past 20 runs in five previous games, holds the key for Mumbai.
With 196 runs from seven matches, he needs to bat either one-down, as he did in the last game, or open the innings, to get the much-needed time to settle down at the crease.
The Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal, who have been bowling well, will also need to get a big knocks, having managed just 61 and 113 runs in seven-odd matches they have played.
J P Dumminy, who came in for Kieron Pollard in the last game, will be itching to be in the thick of things. The South African did not bat in the last match as Mumbai crossed the winning mark without the need of his services.
Mumbai have also struggled with the ball, unable to click as a bowling unit. Young Mayank Markande is the only bowler who has done well, claiming 10 wickets from seven games with his leg-spin.
Death-over specialist Jasprit Bumrah and Mustafizur Rahman have bagged seven and six wickets respectively, and if Mumbai want to restrict the likes of Kohli and McCullum, the two pacers will have to play their role to perfection.
RCB are struggling at seventh position after two wins and five defeats.
They will be praying for the return of A B de Villiers, who did not play the last game due to fever. The South African star is in prime form this season, having smashed 68 off 30 balls against CSK and single-handedly demolished Delhi Daredevils with an unbeaten 39-ball 90.
Kohli will be keen to produce another special knock in this crunch situation, especially after staying unbeaten on 92 and 68 against Mumbai and KKR respectively.
Opener Quinton De Kock, who has scored 194 runs so far, would like to carry on with his good performance.
The Teams (from):
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard, Mustifizur Rahman, Adam Milne, Suryakumar Yadav, Krunal Pandya, Ishan Kishan, Rahul Chahar, Evin Lewis, Saurabh Tiwary, Ben Cutting, Pradeep Sangwan, JP Duminy, Tajinder Singh, Sharad Lumba, Siddhesh Lad, Aditya Tare, Mayank Markande Akila Dhanajaya, Anukul Roy, Mohsin Khan, MD Nidheesh and Mitchell McClenaghan.
Royal Challengers Bangalore: Virat Kohli (Captain), Quinton de Kock, Brendon McCullum, AB de Villiers, Sarfaraz Khan, Mandeep Singh, Chris Woakes, Washington Sundar, Umesh Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Colin de Grandhomme, Moeen Ali, Pawan Negi, Mohammed Siraj, Corey Anderson, Parthiv Patel, Tim Southee.
