Corey Anderson played an IPL knock for the ages to guide the Mumbai Indians to a stunning playoff qualifying victory over the Rajasthan Royals on Sunday at the Wankhede.
In a match that will be remembered for quite a while, MI chased down a target of 190 in just 14.4 overs to sneak above the Royals on net run rate and take the fourth spot.
"The performance was unbelievable," MI skipper Rohit Sharma said. "I think we showed today nothing was impossible. This is for the people of Mumbai.
"Corey Anderson was unbelievable, and [Ambati] Rayudu played a great cameo there. We knew what we had to do and there was no pressure on us. We had to go from ball one and that's what we did.
"I said at the start of the tournament this team has potential and we showed that today. We picked ourselves up when we got back to India."
The Mumbai Indians looked down and out of the tournament after losing five straight games in the UAE, but the defending IPL champs found redemption thanks to a man who was criticised severely for some of MI's poor performances early in the season.
"We knew what we needed. We let them get too many runs. I'm glad I could do something to bring them to their feet," said Man of the Match Anderson, who repaid the faith placed in him in ridiculous fashion.
"Rayudu came in and smashed it and that last ball from tare as well. It was about staying still and backing yourself.
"The thing is when you complicate things you get in trouble. People started realising we had a chance here and I wanted to be out there in the end. It doesn't get any better than this.
"The Mumbai crowd are unbelievable. Now I do feel at home here."
For the Royals, it will take some time to get over the fact that they will not be playing in the playoffs, when a week ago they looked a shoe-in for the next stage with a top-two place even a distinct possibility.
