NEW DELHI: Kolkata Knight Riders continued their dominance in the 2024 Indian Premier League by securing their third title with an emphatic victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. The comprehensive win showcased KKR's all-round strength, with significant contributions from multiple players.
Former India batter Ambati Rayudu, in his congratulatory message to the Shreyas Iyer-led side, took a subtle dig at Virat Kohli and Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Speaking on Star Sports after the match, Rayudu emphasized that individual accolades, such as the Orange Cap, do not guarantee IPL titles, but rather it is the collective contributions from the entire team that lead to success.
"Congratulations to the KKR team for really standing up for stalwarts like Narine, Russell, and Starc, and also contributing their share in the team's win. That’s how a team wins the IPL. We have seen this over the years. It's not the Orange Cap that wins you the IPL but it is the contributions like 300 runs each (from many players)," Rayudu remarked.
Kohli had an outstanding individual season, winning the Orange Cap with 741 runs in 15 innings, including one hundred and five fifties, at an average of 61.75 and a strike rate of over 154. Despite his impressive performance, RCB once again fell short of the title.
This wasn't the first time Rayudu criticized RCB. Following their exit from IPL 2024 after a loss to Rajasthan Royals in the Eliminator, Rayudu took to X to express his thoughts. He pointed out the shortcomings in RCB's management and leadership, suggesting that prioritizing individual milestones over team interests has hindered their success.
"My heart truly goes out to all the RCB supporters who have passionately supported the team over the years. If only the management and the leaders had the team's interests ahead of individual milestones, RCB would have won multiple titles. Just remember how many fantastic players have been let go of. Force your management to bring players who will put team interests first. A great new chapter can start from the mega auction," Rayudu had written.
