MI and DC are in a neck-and-neck battle for the fourth and final playoff spot.
The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is about to reach its business end and the race for playoffs is heating up.
Three teams, namely Gujarat Titans (GT), Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), have already confirmed their qualification while Mumbai Indians (MI) and Delhi Capitals (DC) are in a neck-and-neck battle for the fourth and final spot for the knockout stages.
MI and DC are slated to square off on Wednesday (May 21) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
On the eve of the crucial fixture, MI head coach Mahela Jayawardene said the five-time champions were "always in contention" of making the playoffs after their six-match winning run earlier in the season and deserve to be in a position to decide its own fate.
MI will need a win against DC to join GT, RCB and PBKS, in the playoffs. However, a loss will mean the Hardik Pandya-led side will have to depend on the outcome of the contest between DC and PBKS on May 24.
"We were always in contention for playoffs after we had that run. For us, it's good to start the tournament (again) and play cricket, the guys have been waiting for this, training has been pretty good and just take one game at a time," Jayawardene told the media during MI's training.
"It's in our control, it's a great position to be here. The message from me for the boys was to make sure that we go through our routines, our processes, the way we train, the way we plan, and the way we've gone about this tournament."
"It's better to have it in our control than anyone else's and watch that situation, so we've played good cricket to deserve to be in that situation, and we'll go out and try and play our best game of cricket tomorrow," he added.
Despite the extra time of one hour being allotted to all matches from May 20, Jayawardene said it still might not help in case of serious rain.
"Obviously the weather has been threatening most of the games and it's a decision that they've collectively taken. If it helps, it helps, but if you have serious rain, I don't know whether the extra hours are going to help," he stated.
"But as long as we can get a game with the extension... everyone wants to play a game of cricket rather than not play," he remarked.
The MI coach did not speak much on the fact that England and South Africa players are set to leave the IPL before the playoffs begin.
"The same is going to happen for most of those teams which have qualified already. They're going to be in the same situation so I haven't thought that far ahead," he said.
"We've obviously named the three guys that we're looking at to bring. Two of them (Richard Gleeson and Charith Asalanka) are already here. I think Jonny (Bairstow) will arrive tomorrow (Wednesday)," he added.
With MI facing a must-win situation, Jayawardene compared it to what they encountered earlier in the competition.
"We were in that situation when we were 4-1 after five matches. For us, every game was a must-win from that situation (and) the boys reacted pretty well," he said.
"(Even) the last game (against GT), we gave ourselves a great opportunity. We fought really well after the mistakes we've done, so cricket-wise, I'm not worried. The brand of cricket that we're playing, reacting to situations," he added.
Meanwhile, Delhi Capitals' bowling coach Munaf Patel acknowledged that his side will miss the services of Mitchell Starc in this game.
"It will matter because he is our main fast bowler who bowls at 145 kmph, swings the ball and that too at the Wankhede wicket, where both swing and bounce is available," Patel said.
"It matters 100 per cent, but when there is no option, you have to think of other alternatives, you cannot get stuck thinking 'oh he is not there now, what will happen?'. You have to move ahead with whatever (players) you have and ensure they perform," he added.
Patel said KL Rahul, who is coming into this match on the back of an unbeaten century, suggested he would switch to the opening slot to help the team's cause.
"He is batting extraordinarily, he has scored runs in all positions. He puts his hand up whenever the team is in need," Patel said.
"He only suggested that he would open the innings because the opening pair wasn't settling down and went on to make a hundred," he added.
(With PTI Inputs)