The Match:
The first game in the IPL playoffs will be played on Tuesday, May 24, between the Chennai Super Kings and the Royal Challengers Bangalore. This will be a qualifier where the winning team will enter the final of the IPL this year whereas the side going down will have another chance at redemption. 
The game will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and will start at 8.00 pm local time or 1430 hours GMT.
How the two teams match up: The two sides had only met as recently as on Sunday and the Royal Challengers Bangalore had made mincemeat of the Chennai Super Kings. The Super Kings failed miserably with the bat and but for a strong knock at the end by MS Dhoni, the Super Kings would have probably ended less than 100. In reply, the Gayle-force ended any hopes that the side had of making a comeback to the game.
Ground Conditions: The game will be played at the Wankhede Stadium where the pitch has slowly begun to take turn and that could work in the favour of the Chennai Super Kings, who have a barrage of slow bowlers capable of turning the tide. For the Royal Challengers Bangalore, Daniel Vettori is their only spinner who can make things change.
The Teams: It has been a one-man show for the Royal Challengers Bangalore but what is good to see is that they have two potential bites at the place in the final. However, they need the likes of AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli to match up to the batting of Gayle, else, things could get really difficult for the side.
The bowling looked good in the previous game after it had been pulverised into submission by Adam Gilchrist and Shaun Marsh in the previous game. Zaheer Khan could hold the key.
For the Chennai Super Kings, the top order needs to get back to showing their patience through the initial bit, not like how they went about their business in the previous game against Bangalore. Michael Hussey will be the key for the side in the batting while R Ashwin is the bowler to look out for.
Players to look out for: The Royal Challengers Bangalore will look to their middle-order – Mohammad Kaif has been around but hasn’t done much with the bat. The Super Kings will hope that Suresh Raina can come good with the bat.
Prediction: Chennai will look to win this one, as has usually been the case – coming back from behind.