New Delhi: Mumbai Indians - defending champions of the Indian Premier League (IPL), comprise world class cricketers from different countries which make them one of the most formidable teams in the cash-rich tournament.
This year however, most of the big names have failed to live upto the reputation.
While the likes of Kieron Pollard, Jos Buttler are struggling to deliver on a consistent basis, middle-order batsman Ambati Rayudu has become one of the pillars for the franchise this year.
The wicketkeeper-batsman, who has been a part of the franchise since the tournament's inception, has played back-to-back pivotal knocks in the ninth edition. Since the first match, not once has the 30-year-old scored less than 20 runs. His two half-centuries have come at a time when the team needed it the most.
Rayudu's promotion at number three spot, is slowly proving to be a masterstroke as the right-hander is someone who can steady the ship as well as hit big strokes.
Rohit Sharma and his boys are currently at the fifth position in the points table after playing the maximum number of matches – 7.
Irrespective of what happens to their hopes of defending the coveted title, Rayudu will go down as one of the superstars for the franchise this year.
