Kevin Pietersen’s career ended in controversy. The Test great was accused of helping South Africa get his then-England Test captain Andrew Strauss out. A South African by birth, Pietersen was friends with several Proteas cricketers and admitted he messaged them but never helped them against England in any way.
All was not well between Pietersen and his teammates. And this accusation turned out to be a final straw. He played for 2 more years but was dropped when he was just 34. In the penultimate Test he played, Pietersen scored 120 runs (71 and 49) in Australia. But that was that.
Pietersen helps Kuldeep Yadav
More than a decade later, Pietersen is helping the opposition again. Kuldeep Yadav, India’s best all-format spinner at the moment, has credited his Delhi Capitals mentor for helping him prepare for the India vs England Test series. For the unaware, Pieterson has been helming that role starting this year itself.
Pieterson is perhaps the second-best English Test batter of the 21st century. And much like the current England batters, he was an aggressive batter. Kuldeep says that during their time together in the IPL, Pieterson gave him advice as to how to bowl in England, set fields, and understand the nature of pitches.
“Kevin Pieterson was part of our team at Delhi Capitals. He gave me a lot of inputs for the England tour. He told me about fielding positions, pitches, and the batsmen. We ran through their batting lineup. He told me about the mindset needed in England,” Kuldeep told The Indian Express.
The former batter told the left-arm wrist spinner that he must attack at all times. Kuldeep also remembers how his idol, Shane Warne, fared in England. His job won’t just be to hold one end but to take wickets as well.
“Pietersen said that generally, spinners come to England with a defensive mindset. They think that in England, fast bowlers will get wickets and they will be in a supporting role. He told me to take the field with an attacking mindset. If I get a game and bowl 15 to 20 overs, I have to always think about how to get the batsmen out,” he added.
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Kuldeep has also shared his mindset. He says openly that he only deserves to play if he takes wickets for the team. The leggie plans to put as many revolutions on the ball as possible and use the drift in England. He knows English batters will attack him and is ready for it.
“Apan ko kuch aata nahi hai bowling ke aalava (I don’t know anything other than bowling). If you don’t take wickets, you can’t justify yourself for playing in England. If you don’t take wickets, I don’t think you deserve to play. But I know one thing, wherever one is playing, at home or in England. I have to get the revs on the ball and the drift and that will get me wickets.”
“The pitches in that series were batting-friendly. The Test matches went for 4-5 days. England conditions are different but as a spinner, I believe that it won’t be that different. Besides, the way England bat, I think the spinners will be in the game,” Kuldeep concluded.
Kevin Pietersen advises England’s rival again, bets on Kuldeep Yadav to crack Bazball code Inside Sport India.
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