Former CSK star taunts Kohli's RCB after eliminator loss: 'Celebration, aggression...'

IT seems the fire that broke out following Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) win over Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 that put the former champions out of the tournament is still raging.

Former CSK player Ambati Rayudu hit back at RCB after Faf du Plessis's side was shown the door by Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the eliminator of the tournament in Ahmedabad on Wednesday (22), shattering its dream of winning the trophy for the first time yet another time. RR, led by Sanju Samson, came into the match as underdogs but had the last laugh by defeating RCB by four wickets to advance to the second qualifier.

Winning the toss, RR restricted RCB to 172 for 8 in 20 overs before overhauling the target with four wickets in hand.

In a broadcast of the match on Star Sports, Rayudu was heard taunting RCB indirectly by saying the IPL crown is not won by celebrations and aggression and neither by just beating CSK.

Read: Bengaluru's fairytale run ends in IPL 2024 as Rajasthan send them home

"To win the IPL trophy you will have to play well in the Playoffs," he said. 

RCB players, including former captain Virat Kohli, were accused of not honouring their opponents after they beat CSK at home on May 18, and it was alleged that their supporters also misbehaved with those of Chennai.

Du Plessis, on the other hand, said after the game that he was proud of his team's run to reach the playoffs.

Read: Days after 4 terror suspects held in Gujarat, RCB cancel practice over Kohli security

"With the dew coming, we felt we were short with the bat. Did think we were 20 runs shy of what was a good score. Credit to the boys - they fought really well. That's all you can ask for. If you look at naturally assessing the pitch and conditions, you would say it's a 180 pitch because it was swinging upfront and was quite slow," he said after the match.

"But what we've found out this season, with the impact player, the par score isn't enough any more. Also with the dew coming in. Extremely proud. Lot of teams - their wheels would've fallen off after 1 from 9. To come back like that, six games in a row, takes a lot of heart and character. We weren't special tonight in terms of pushing that extra 20 runs with the bat," the RCB captain added.

RCB lost seven of their first eight games in the tournament but made a tremendous comeback by winning six matches in a row, including the one against CSK, to reach the playoffs. However, with Wednesday's loss, they now own the dubious record of having the most number of defeats in the IPL playoffs.