Kevin Pietersen posts heartfelt message on India’s Independence Day

What impressed many is that the former legendary batter ended the Tweet with ‘Jai Hind’ and also put the Tricolour emoji. He has also defended the IPL on many occasions and had called for more English players to play the league in the early editions. Earlier this year, Alastair Cook had created a storm when he suggested that Jacob Bethell should head back home rather than warming the benches for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

“Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it's like to be in the IPL. What's it's like to always be around the best players in the world. So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player," Pietersen had responded.

What is Kevin Pietersen’s record against India?

The right-handed batter played 16 Tests against the Indian side, scoring 1581 runs at an average of 58. He also hit six centuries and as many fifties in his career. His best of 202 not out came in the 2011 Test at Lord’s, and the batter also played a key role for his side in their Test series win in India during the 2012/13 tour. 

KP, as he is fondly called, played nine Tests in India, scoring 703 runs at an average of 43, with a best of 186, which came in Mumbai. He played 36 IPL games, scoring 1001 runs with one ton and four fifties, AT a strike-rate of 134. 

His best season was with Delhi Capitals (Then Delhi Daredevils) in 2012, where the batter scored 305 runs from eight innings with a century against Deccan Chargers. His last season in the league came in 2016 for the MS Dhoni-led Rising Pune Supergiants, where the batter played four games and amassed 37 runs.