NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer
Ambati Rayudu
has once again courted controversy following his comments on
Virat Kohli
and
Royal Challengers Bengaluru
(RCB) after the IPL 2024 final.
Despite Kohli's stellar performance, Rayudu pointed out that the consistency of the star batter might actually burden the team, even as he emerged as the highest run-scorer in the competition.
During an analysis on Star Sports, Rayudu, along with
Kevin Pietersen
and Mayanti Langer, discussed the impact of having a player of Kohli's caliber on a team like RCB.
The Conversation:
Rayudu: "When you have a stalwart and a legend like Virat Kohli, who has set really high standards, it's very hard for the youngsters to be in a side like that and try and match his standard because he always wants the team to be performing at his level."
Pietersen: "No, it should be good for youngsters…"
Rayudu: "But sometimes the burden of really trying to be Virat Kohli in a sport where you know nobody is going to be like him."
Mayanti Langer: "But didn't Patidar step up to the plate?"
Rayudu: "Patidar can only be a Patidar but not a Virat Kohli, and I think RCB, as a management, understands that you cannot have 11 Virat Kohli in the team. You need to have 1 Virat Kohli with 10 others being themselves, having their own identities and strengths and weaknesses. And you need to use them well in terms of resources. You can't expect somebody to win the game in the first season. You need to give him that leeway and time to grow into a match-winner. So I think the management has its task out, and even Virat Kohli needs to ease his standards a bit when it comes to youngsters, nurturing them, and letting them grow."
Rayudu's Previous Remarks on Virat Kohli and RCB
Earlier, in his congratulatory message to the Shreyas Iyer-led KKR, Rayudu subtly criticized RCB, emphasizing that individual accolades like 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.
Rayudu's Criticism of RCB Management:
This isn't the first time Rayudu has 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.
Rayudu's remarks have sparked a significant debate in the cricketing community, highlighting the ongoing struggles of RCB to convert individual brilliance into team success.
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