IPL 8: Kevin Pietersen Set to Join Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday
Kevin Pietersen was bought by Sunrisers in this year's IPL auction but was allowed to return home to England to play county cricket to revive his international career.
England batsman Kevin Pietersen will join Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Friday, the Indian Premier League (IPL) outfit announced on Wednesday.
The star batsman was bought by Sunrisers in this year's auction but was allowed to return home to England to play county cricket to revive his international career. (Pietersen Snub Indicates Lack of Trust)
In an agreement, Pietersen was allowed to miss the Sunrisers' entire league fixtures. But the agreement had also mentioned that he will be recalled should the team reach the knockout stages of the competition -- which commence on May 19 and finish with the final on May 24. (No Country For Cricketers)
New England and Wales Crickt Board (ECB) director Andrew Strauss said on Tuesday Pietersen won't be recalled to the national till this summer, paving the batsman's way for playing in the IPL. The 34-year-old will be available for selection for Sunrisers' last home game against Mumbai Indians on May 17. (Pietersen Jokes About England Coaching Job)
The right-hander will be a big boost to the Sunrisers' top order as it bids to seal a top-four berth to qualify for the play-offs. Sunrisers currently lie third in the points table with 14 points thanks to a solid run of form that has seen the squad win four of their last five matches.
Pietersen himself is in fine form, having scored a triple century for county side Surrey only days ago.
"Kevin Pietersen will be joining us on the May 15 in Hyderabad. SRH picked Kevin at this year's auction and he will be available to take part in the remainder of our campaign this season," SRH CEO K. Shanmugam said in a release.
"It is great news that Kevin will be joining us earlier than planned. To add a world-class batsman to our squad at the business end of the tournament is a huge bonus, we look forward to welcoming him to our squad," team head coach Tom Moody said.
Pietersen made his IPL debut in 2009 and has played 32 games so far, scoring 928 runs at an impressive strike rate of 136.07. He is regarded as one of the most exciting and destructive batsmen in modern day cricket.