Kevin Pietersen has come in support of Ambati Rayudu after “banter” between the two commentators during the IPL 2024 final led to social media vitriol towards Rayudu.
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During the pre-match show of the IPL 2024 final, both Pietersen and Rayudu were seen wearing clothes of the colour apparently resembling their favourite teams.
However, after the Kolkata Knight Riders beat Sunrisers Hyderabad comprehensively to lift their third title, Rayudu changed his orange waistcoat, apparently in support of the Sunrisers, to blue as Pietersen and Matthew Hayden, both of whom were commentating for lead television broadcaster Star Sports teased the former India batter for the same.
“Thank you for bringing out the fact that he changed from orange to blue,” pointed out host Mayanti Langer.
“I’ve at least held firm. I wore it and I owned it,” said Pietersen pointing out towards his purple attire. “You are a joker, always a joker.”
Rayudu responded: “I am supporting both the teams. I am supporting good cricket.”
Why was Rayudu subjected to abuse?
According to Pietersen, the “banter” didn’t go well on social media, as Rayudu was subject to online abuse, especially in the aftermath of Rayudu’s comments post the Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s exit. Some had suggested Rayudu had taken a swipe at Virat Kohli when he said “It’s not the Orange Cap that wins you the IPL, but it’s the contributors like 300 runs each”. Pietersen’s banter ended up instigating the vitriol further.
Pietersen defended his colleague by urging everyone to refrain from “tribalism with/against Indian players on social media”.
“Come on guys! This tribalism with/against Indian players on social media needs to slow down!” he wrote on X. “Example – @RayuduAmbati and I were messing around after the IPL final and all of sudden that banter has turned into an avalanche of abuse towards Ambati.”
PLEASE stop it? 🙏🏽
Come on guys!
This tribalism with/against Indian players on social media needs to slow down!
Example – @RayuduAmbati and I were messing around after the IPL final and all of sudden that banter has turned into an avalanche of abuse towards Ambati.
PLEASE stop it? 🙏🏽
— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) May 28, 2024
In the final, Mitchell Starc ran riot with the ball, restricting the Sunrisers to 113. KKR gunned down the total in 10.3 overs to become the third most successful franchise with three trophies behind Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians, both of whom have won five titles each. Starc’s match-winning 2-14 came on the back of his 3-34 against the same opponents in the Qualifier 1.
