Former English batting stalwart Kevin Pietersen welcomed India’s decision to include Varun Chakravarthy for the forthcoming ODI series starting on February 6th. But at the same time, he backs the visitors to play a positive brand of cricket against him in the longer format.
Chakravarthy was the chief destroyer for India in the recently concluded five-match T20I series claiming 14 wickets at a jaw-dropping average of 9.8 which took India to a commanding 4-1 series win.
Not every ball in an event ball in the longer format – Kevin Pietersen
Following his dazzling exploits with the ball in the T20I series, the decision was made to include Chakravarthy in the ODI setup in the absence of Bumrah. Although viewed by many as a positive move, Pietersen is of the opinion that the English batters will be better accustomed to tackling him in the longer format.
At the launch of Dram Bell Scotch Whisky, Pietersen addressed the media and said that not every ball is an event ball in the ODI format and explained that the batters usually get more time to line up the bowlers, unlike the T20I format.
"The English batters would be better against him in the one-dayers because they can spend more time. It's a longer format, not every ball is an event. But I think it is a great decision (to add Chakravarthy)."
Kevin Pietersen
Moreover, he also adds that he is disappointed with the way the series ended. Expressing his anguish over the concussion sub row, Pietersen believed that the series was lost when Harshit Rana came in as a replacement for Shivam Dube in the Pune T20I. If the like-for-like replacement was correctly awarded, England would have gone to Wankhede at 2-2 and the series scoreline would have looked a lot different then.
"It was a disappointing series from England's perspective. I think that in the fourth T20I, if the concussion substitution had been done correctly, maybe England would have got up there. It would have been 2-2 coming to the Wankhede (Stadium for final T20I). It would have been way more on the game. But it didn't happen."
Kevin Pietersen
India has managed to maintain their winning streak against England in the shortest format. Their last series loss against them came way back in 2014. However, the Men in Blue have a more robust track record against England at home in the one-dayers. Since 2002, England are yet to register an ODI series win in India. The upcoming ODI series will feature three games with the opening game slated to be played in Nagpur on February 6.
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