Calcutta: Ambati Rayudu played another match-winning knock in the ongoing IPL that more or less has assured Chennai Super Kings a place in the play-offs.

Rayudu scored an unbeaten 100 that helped Super Kings chase down 180 and thereby beat table-toppers Sunrisers Hyderabad by eight wickets in Sunday's clash in Pune.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, under whose captaincy Rayudu made his India debut, was indeed all praise for the Andhra batsman. "Even before the IPL started, I had to make space for Rayudu because he is someone I rate very highly.

"He can play both fast bowlers and spinners equally well. Most teams look to test opening batsmen with spin bowling, but Rayudu remains unfazed with whatever is thrown at him.

"He is someone who doesn't look like a big hitter, but he clears the field almost every time he plays a big shot," the Super Kings captain said during the post-match presentation.

According to Dhoni, his plan was to send Rayudu at the top as one of the openers, while Kedar Jadhav would bat at number four or five had he been fit.

"My plan was to make Rayudu open and if Kedar was fit, he would bat at four or five," Dhoni said.

The solid start Super Kings got off to, thanks to Rayudu and Shane Watson, laid the foundation for their successful run chase, Dhoni pointed out. "I thought the ball would swing more in the second half than what it did while we bowled.

"The swing was not there later, which was a surprise. We got off to a good start as Watson and Rayudu hit boundaries whenever there was an opportunity. Otherwise, 180 against Sunrisers would have been a tough chase," Dhoni said.

Talking about number Being the obvious Man of the Match for his splendid knock, Rayudu said: "The opening slot is a good position to bat in T20s. I am enjoying it right now."