Anderson, who is being paid $866,000 for a seven-week stint, has had a quiet IPL to date but that all changed overnight when he smashed six sixes and nine fours in a 44-ball 95.
Chasing 189 for victory, Mumbai reached 195 for five with 5.2 overs remaining in the match, but only just enough to dramatically leap-frog the Royals on net run-rate.
Anderson started with a bang, hitting 10 off his first two balls and added a second six three balls later before going four overs without a boundary.
With Mumbai's chances of making the playoffs fading fast, the Black Cap started finding the boundary again bringing up his 50 in just 26 balls.
He was still there at the end as the Indians reached the required total to steal a playoff spot from the Royals without a ball to spare.
