IPL 2024: Why Kevin Pietersen Called Ambati Rayudu 'A Joker' on Live TV After KKR vs SRH Final?

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Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen called former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu a "joker" in a hilarious interaction on Star Sports' post-IPL 2024 Final show on Sunday (May 26) night.

In the IPL 2024 final, Kolkata Knight Riders registered a comprehensive 8-wicket win over Sunrisers Hyderabad at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai to lift their third Indian Premier League title and first since 2014.

Following the match, Pietersen labelled Rayudu a joker moments after they were met with by KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan, who was doing a lap around the ground, thanking the players and fans.

Rayudu, a former Chennai Super Kings player, has been sour since Royal Challengers Bengaluru knocked out CSK from the competition. He has been taking swipe at RCB and their fans on-air as well as social media, where he has also been on the receiving end of some trolls.

Even before the final, the former CSK batter, who also had a stint with Mumbai Indians and won six IPL titles in his career, had said Orange Cap doesn't win you the IPL, once again taking a dig at Virat Kohli and the Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

"It's not the Orange Cap that wins you the IPL but it is the contributions like 300 runs each (of many players)," Rayudu had said during the pre-match show on Star Sports.

There are some posts claiming Pietersen called Rayudu a joker for his Orang Cap does not win you the IPL title, but that isn't true as the former England star, who also captained RCB in the early years, poked fun at the former India cricketer for a different reason.

Why Kevin Pietersen Called Ambati Rayudu 'A Joker' on Live TV During KKR vs SRH Final?

All the commentators were in special purple and orange attire for the final, matching the colours of the finalists Kolkata Knight Riders and Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pietersen made the light-hearted remark after Rayudu switched his outfit from orange to blue during the 2024 IPL Final between the KKR and the SRH.

Rayudu, who has been supporting SRH duo to his Hyderabad connect in domestic cricket, sported orange before the match started, but switched to purple after SRH folded for 113 all out.

"You're a joker!" Pietersen told Rayudu on air during the Star Sports Cricket Live show, suggesting at the latter's change of colours after SRH lost. "I, at least, held firm," Pietersen added as he stuck to his light purple attire from the start.

The hilarious exchange saw Matthew Hayden and Mayanti Langer, who were present alongside, break into laughter as the banter continued for most part of the post-final show.