‘I Feel There Was An Injustice Done’ Harbhajan Singh On Ambati Rayudu Not Picked In India's 2019 World Cup Team

Harbhajan slammed the Indian team's selection process over not picking up his CSK team-mate Ambati Rayadu for the 2019 ICC World Cup held in the United Kingdom and said that he deserved a spot in the Indian squad for the marquee event last year.

Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh who is not playing for the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the thirteenth edition of the IPL has heaped praises on the stellar batting performance of his franchise team mate Ambati Rayudu in CSK's win over defending champions Mumbai Indians in the season opener played at Abu Dhabi on Saturday (September 19). Harbhajan slammed the Indian team's selection process over not picking up his CSK team-mate Ambati Rayadu for the 2019 ICC World Cup held in the United Kingdom last year and firmly believed that he deserved a spot in the Indian squad for the marquee event last year. Rayadu spearheaded Chennai Super King's successful 163-run chase against Mumbai Indians by top scoring with a breezy 71-run knock and stitched a match winning partnership with Faf Du Plessis to guide his team to a 5-wicket win in the tournament opener. Rayudu was a front-runner for ending India's long term batting problems for the number four slot in the batting order and fared pretty well in the build up to the World Cup. However, the selectors picked up all-rounder Vijay Shankar for the middle order position and to add depth to the team courtesy his ability with both the willow and the red cherry . “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 Sports Tak. Harbhajan went back into memory lane and recalled the fact that a win in CSK's opening encounters against Mumbai Indians in the 2018 season was a good omen for the 3-time champs as they went onto win the IPL title in that edition of the league. 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.” “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 in 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. After winning their opening encounter against Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings will next take on Rajasthan Royals in their second match in the ongoing IPL 13 on Tuesday.