Mumbai meet Rajasthan in inconsequential game

Match facts

Sunday, May 20, 2012
Start time 2000 (1430 GMT)

With Delhi Daredevils crushing Kings XI Punjab, Mumbai Indians are into the playoffs, rendering the 72nd and final league game of IPL 2012 inconsequential. Rajasthan Royals are already knocked out, while Mumbai Indians' focus will be on the eliminator and whether they will play Royal Challengers Bangalore or Chennai Super Kings.

Mumbai Indians and Royals met in the closing stages of last season, with Shane Watson's 3 for 19 and unbeaten 89 off 47 balls delivering a 10-wicket win. It was also Shane Warne's final IPL game and his side gave him a rousing send-off with the victory. It may or may not be Rahul Dravid's final IPL game tomorrow. After a tame loss to Deccan Chargers finished their playoff hopes, can Royals end their season with a win?

Mumbai Indians are also coming off a big loss to Kolkata Knight Riders, and could do with a win going into the eliminator.

Form guide

Rajasthan Royals: LWLWW (most recent first)
Mumbai Indians : LWWLW

After the defeat to Chargers, Rahul Dravid reflected on what he said had been an emotional two months for him in this IPL. This has been by far his most productive IPL season, with 457 runs. He might be back next year, he might not be. Tomorrow will his last innings, for quite some time at least.

The other great, Sachin Tendulkar, has had a modest run this season by his standards, averaging 25.50 from 11 innings with just one half-century. Like all batsmen have this season, he struggled to pick Sunil Narine on Wednesday, eventually getting bowled trying to cut a big offbreak. Expect an even more determined Tendulkar tomorrow.

Stats and trivia

• Royals still have a strong home record with 19 wins from 28 games, second only to Chennai Super Kings
• This is Rohit Sharma's best IPL in terms of runs - 419 so far - but in terms of strike-rate, 2008 was his best year. His 404 runs from that edition came at 147.98 against 129.72 this season

Quotes

"We accept that we haven't played the way we wanted to play. People say we haven't played to our potential, [but] still we are at No.3 [in the points table]. So, if we as a team can play to our potential, I am sure we are going to do well."
Mumbai Indians' Rohit Sharma