Picture Credit: X/IPL
Since the Royal Challengers Bengaluru got the better of Chennai Super Kings in their do-or-die encounter in Bengaluru, former CSK player Ambati Rayudu has been continuously taking the rough takes on RCB and their star player Virat Kohli. On Sunday after KKR’s third title win in the IPL, the former Indian cricketer Ambati Rayudu was again critical about Virat Kohli and his standards, which according to him are putting pressure on the youngsters in the team.
Virat Kohli had a scintillating season with the bat where the former Indian skipper took his run-scoring charts to 741, the highest by any batter in this edition, and fifth highest in the IPL history. He coupled it up with an astonishing strike rate where he played at as high as 156 and notched up 38 sixes.
Citing the challenges that RCB faces every year in the league, Rayudu said that it’s the standard set by Kohli that puts youngsters under pressure. He said, “Virat needs to lower his standards so that youngsters will feel less pressure. It’s very very tough for youngsters to be in a side like that and match his standards, as he always wants his team’s standards to be on top.” Here the former England cricketer, Kevin Pietersen, who was part of the commentary panel during the IPL 2024, interrupted and added, “but it should be good for youngsters.”
Rayudu, in reply to the former English cricketer, said, “It’s good for youngsters but sometimes the burden of really trying to be Virat Kohli in a squad where you know, no one can be Virat.”
Adding to it, Star Sports broadcaster Mayanti Langer too expressed her disagreement with Rayudu's statement as she claimed, "But Patidar has stepped up too."
