During the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season, former England captain Kevin Pietersen had labeled India batter Ambati Rayudu a "joker," which led to a bizarre attack on live television.

Pietersen crossed the line in a bit of banter with Rayudu before the IPL 2024 final between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The former Indian batter has now clarified how much the uproar surrounding the incident hurt the Englishman, even if Pietersen later clarified the "joker" jab at Rayudu.

Pietersen was irritated by Rayudu's decision to switch from an orange waistcoat to a purple one. Pietersen's 'joker' remark followed Rayudu's declaration that he was rooting for both teams in the championship game.

"I have at least held firm. I wore it, and I owned it. You are a joker, always a joker," Pietersen told Rayudu on air.

"I am supporting both teams. I am supporting good cricket," Rayudu had responded to Pietersen's playful dig.  

Ambati Rayudu talked about the same on Shubhankar Mishra’s podcast recently and stated that he had to change the jackets because it was hot in Chennai. Rayudu stated that Pietersen later apologized to him for his ‘joker’ jibe on air. Rayudu said that he could’ve taken a jibe at Pietersen for his RCB career in IPL.

"That day, we had not picked teams. Chennai was hot, so I had two jackets. On air, he said whatever, but we could also tell him things because he played for RCB and did not do anything. I was maintaining professional decorum. He apologized later, also, for saying that on air. We were just having banter, but people took it in some way. But it affected him more and not me," Rayudu told Shubhankar Mishra during a podcast.

Ambati Rayudu began his IPL career for the Mumbai Indians, winning multiple IPL titles with them, and ended his career with the Chennai Super Kings, also winning the IPL thrice with them.