IPL 2020 | Good omen for CSK to beat Mumbai Indians; hope we repeat 2018 season, opines Harbhajan Singh

In 2018, when Chennai Super Kings came back into the competition following a two-year suspension, they faced the then IPL defending champions Mumbai Indians in the opening fixture of the competition. While Mumbai had wrapped up Chennai pretty well in the game, Dwayne Bravo’s out-of-jail innings alongside Kedar Jadhav’s heroics helped CSK to an improbable victory. 

This season too, they have had their first game of the season against the defending champions, against who they narrowly lost in the 2019 IPL final by one run. However, in the 2020 edition, the three-time IPL champions got off to an amazing start, with a five-wicket victory over Rohit Sharma’s side on the back of an impressive display from Ambati Rayudu, who scored 71 runs off just 48 deliveries. Talking about the win, CSK’s off-spinner opined that it’s a good omen for the men in yellow to win their first game against Mumbai. 

“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,” Harbhajan said in an interview with Sports Tak, reported HT. 

“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.” 

Alongside that, Harbhajan also was of the opinion that there was ‘injustice’ done to Rayudu, who missed out on his spot from the 15-man 2019 World Cup squad. Rayudu, who was the front-runner for the No.4 slot was at the last minute dropped for the inclusion of Tamil Nadu all-rounder Vijay Shankar. 

“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.