Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh lauded the game put on by Ambati Rayudu in the initial round of the thirteenth release of Indian Premier League and said that he merited a spot in the World Cup crew a year ago. Rayudu was pegged to be India's decision for no. 4 batting space in the World Cup crew a year ago however he was pipped to the post by Vijay Shankar.

In the season opener of IPL 2020 between Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, Rayudu scored 71 runs in 48 balls for CSK to assist his team in pursuing down a total of 163.

“The partnership between Rayudu and Du Plessis was the game-changing moment for Chennai Super Kings. We have made a bright start and we need to keep moving forward like this,” Harbhajan said in an interview with a sports news media organization.

The CSK off-spinner further said, “I remember that when we had won the IPL two years back, we had defeated Mumbai Indians in the first game. So, it is a good omen for us and I hope we will finish well again.”

On being asked what he needs to state about Rayudu's presentation, Harbhajan said that he feels that Rayudu not getting chose for World Cup 2019 was an 'injustice' done to him.

“It will be less however much you appreciate Rayudu. I feel there was an injustice done to him when the World Cup team was picked. He should have been definitely there on that team. But he has shown again in this match, how much ability he has and that age is on one side and talent is also something that needs to be looked at,” Harbhajan said.

CSK will compete against RR on Tuesday.