Rohit and Rayudu boost Mumbai Indians

Rohit Sharma remained one of Mumbai Indians' more consistent performers in the batting line-up while they kept tinkering with their opening combination. Batting at No.3, he was fluent, attacking and displayed a wide range of shots, scoring a half-century and a century in a matter of a week. Against Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium, he was involved in a 126-run stand with Sachin Tendulkar in a successful chase of 174.

He got a duck in the next match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, but made amends with his first IPL century, against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens. He was ruthless against the short ball, pulling Brett Lee for six, cut very well and slog-swept the spinners. He was able to clear the ropes with ease, timing the ball superbly, launching Lee over long-on before clipping him past midwicket to bring up the landmark. He added 167 with Herschelle Gibbs, and Mumbai Indians kept their place in the top four with a 27-run win.

Ambati Rayudu made a mark with Mumbai Indians in the 2010 season, forming a successful duo with Saurabh Tiwary, who is now part of Royal Challengers. This time around, he's batted down the order - at No.5 as opposed to No.3 - and helped Mumbai Indians win some tight matches. Rayudu has shown he can adapt well to different situations, play cautiously when wickets have fallen in quick time or open up with a good platform set by the batsmen before him. He's been of enormous value to Mumbai Indians in run-chases.

Against Kings XI Punjab in Mohali, he belted two sixes in the penultimate over from Piyush Chawla and struck the winning boundary in a thrilling, match-winning cameo of 34-not out. He then scored a half-century in vain against Royal Challengers before guiding his team home calmly against Deccan Chargers. In his most significant performance so far this season, he helped rescue Mumbai Indians from the depths of 51 for 5 in a big chase against Royal Challengers in Bangalore, made an unbeaten 81, added 122 with Kieron Pollard and sealed another last-over victory following a late onslaught. He is his team's second-highest run-getter this season.

Ben Hilfenhaus was left dispirited when Dwayne Smith stunned him and Chennai Super Kings, smashing 14 off the last three balls of the match to snatch victory for Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. But Hilfenhaus recovered quickly, and has been an asset to Super Kings this season. He's bowled at a healthy pace first up, moved the ball away off the pitch, found swing when the conditions have been supportive and made early breakthroughs.

In his very next match, he bowled one of the most economical spells in the format, taking 2 for 8 in four overs against Rajasthan Royals, getting rid of Shane Watson. He was instrumental in restricting Delhi Daredevils to just 114, taking 3 for 27 - dismissing Virender Sehwag, David Warner and Naman Ojha - at Chepauk. In next two games, he ended up conceding 46 runs in eight overs for two wickets, impressive returns in the Twenty20 format.