Virat Kohli, RCB, IPL 2017, Gujarat Lions, Mumbai Indians
Virat Kohli will need to be at his best against GLIANS

With only a win doing for the Royal Challengers Bangalore and the Gujarat Lions, both teams will want to bring their A-game to the Chinnaswamy in IPL 2017 on Thursday.

RCB have to win all six of their remaining games in the Indian Premier League to have a shot at making it to the top four, and with it the playoffs.

The Gujarat Lions are currently bottom of the IPL 2017 points table, and equally desperate for a win.

Let's take a look at how IPL 2017 Match 31 could go.

If RCB bat first:

Chris Gayle and Virat Kohli, knowing the importance of scoring as many as possible in the first six overs, are off to a flier, making 54 runs in the Powerplay. As the pitch slows down, run-scoring becomes more difficult, but RCB know they are in a must-win zone so they go for it.

Gayle keeps banging in the sixes and Kohli plays like Kohli does. Thanks to a big partnership from these two, RCB look on course for an above par total.

AB De Villiers comes in once Gayle is dismissed, for the second time in IPL 2017, by Basil Thampi, and Kohli continues on with the South African. With Kedar Jadhav hitting a few boundaries at the end, RCB get to a well over par 181.

Gujarat Lions know they need to go at full throttle from the off to have a chance of getting to the 182-run target on this wicket.

Brendon McCullum, who knows a thing or two about scoring big at the Chinnaswamy, begins well with Jason Roy/Aaron Finch, and GL look in pretty rude health at the halfway stage of the innings, with McCullum still at the crease and Suresh Raina giving him company.

Needing exactly 100 runs from the final ten overs, the force looks like being with GL, but Tymal Mills and Yuzvendra Chahal change the game around, by picking up McCullum, Raina and Dinesh Karthik.

The GL innings fades quickly from there and RCB are able to pick up a win.

Brendon McCullum, Gujarat Lions, IPL 2017, RCB, KKR
Brendon McCullum has played a few big innings at the ChinnaswamyIANS

If Gujarat Lions bat first:

McCullum and Roy/Finch go on a tear and RCB are unable to stop the runs. It does happen when Chahal comes in, though, and with Samuel Badree also picking up a wicket, GL are quickly two down, losing both their openers.

Suresh Raina, however, looks in good touch and the Gujarat Lions captain puts on a solid partnership with Dinesh Karthik. Courtesy that partnership, and a bit of fireworks at the end from the GL lower middle order, the away side are able to get to 161.

RCB look like they don't just want to win, but they want to win big, with Gayle and Kohli starting like only they can. The required run rate is in the low sevens as the openers find boundaries with ridiculous ease.

There is a bit of a worry when Gayle and AB De Villiers fall in quick succession, but those worries are quickly swept away as Kohli and Kedar Jadhav combine to take RCB home with nearly two overs to spare.