- Monday, February 24, 2025
Some fans slammed Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), reviving the memory of the controversial match between them and Chennai Super Kings in the league stage where RCB were accused of not honouring their losing opponents.
By: Shubham Ghosh
A LOT was said and written after the much talked-about game between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the group stage of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The RCB players and supporters were particularly accused of disrespecting their CSK counterparts after the team won to make the playoffs. It was also alleged that the RCB players did not care to greet their opponents and kept on celebrating their win, forcing veteran Chennai player Mahendra Singh Dhoni to walk off.
But after Bengaluru lost their very next game against Rajasthan Royals and git knocked out, the Chennai supporters and even one of their former players found an opportunity to retaliate, saying only “aggression and celebration” don’t bring the trophy. According to many, the target was Virat Kohli, the ace RCB batter who is known for his on-field antics but is yet to win the IPL for the first time.
On Sunday (26), an entirely opposite scene was witnessed after Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the final to win their third IPL crown.
Read: Here are IPL 2024 awards; Virat Kohli secures orange cap
The purple-dressed franchise reposted a tweet from SRH that contained only an emoji of heartbreak.
“Respect for @SunRisers. One bad game doesn’t define the exceptional season you’ve had in any way. Some unforgettable performances, and a top #TATAIPL2024 season for the men in orange,” KKR said.
https://x.com/KKRiders/status/1794780467990000065
It was viewed nearly 1,000,000 times and liked 55,000 times at the time of writing this report.
Read: Kolkata beat Hyderabad in one-sided final to lift IPL 2024 crown
SRH have been one of the top teams in the tournament, exhibiting some powerful batting display to fetch team totals such as 277 and 287 and even had finished one game against Lucknow Super Kings in less than 10 overs. However, they lost to KKR on three occasions this season — two of which were one-sided affairs — in the qualifier and the final.
SRH were bowled out for just 113 runs in the final, the lowest team total recorded in an IPL final since its inception in 2008, and KKR had no problem whatsoever in knocking off those runs, almost in 10 overs.
The day also remained witness to Kavya Maran, co-founder of Sunrisers Hyderabad and an entrepreneur and daughter of Indian media mogul and founder of Sun Group Kalanithi Maran, breaking down in the stands to see her team losing. The 32-year-old, who is known for her passion for the game, attended her side’s matches throughout the season and was seen celebrating and getting animated depending on the match situations.
As Hyderabad was destined to face a humiliating loss in the final, Maran was seen turning back and wiping her tears, while seemingly refusing those around who tried to console her.
She was then seen turning back to the ground again, sporting a fading smile on her face and applauding the teams.
Shreyas Iyer, KKR captain and the second player from the franchise to lift the cup after Gautam Gambhir, their mentor this year, called their win “absolutely comprehensive” and said his team played like “invincibles” throughout the season.
KKR’s consolation post for SRH won hearts of the supporters, some of whom even slammed the RCB over their alleged gesture after the game against CSK.
Here are some responses to the post:
https://x.com/AjayTweets07/status/1794785793128706433
https://x.com/SUNRISERSU/status/1794788339666817143
https://x.com/TheKhelIndia/status/1794781071017648311
https://x.com/TheReality35/status/1794787316608979034
https://x.com/gateposts_/status/1794784323738140931
