‘I lost my career’ because of IPL, claims former RCB and England star
Kevin Pietersen claims his international career was cut short due to his insistence on playing in the Indian Premier League, a decision that clashed with the England and Wales Cricket Board's stance. He believes his sacrifices paved the way for current English players to participate in lucrative franchise leagues, despite a public fallout with the board.
NEW DELHI: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has made a startling revelation about the abrupt end to his international career, claiming his decision to prioritise the Indian Premier League led to a fallout with the establishment that ultimately cost him his place in the national side. Speaking in a candid interaction with Ranveer Allahbadia, Pietersen reflected on the sacrifices he made in the late 2000s when the England and Wales Cricket Board was reluctant to allow centrally contracted players to feature in the IPL. His stance, he said, triggered a long-standing conflict that shaped the final phase of his England journey.
‘I made big sacrifices, I lost my career’ On being responsible for English cricketers playing in the IPL today, Pietersen did not hold back while recounting the episode. “I made big sacrifices. I lost my career.
That’s the reason why everybody in that establishment went against me,” he said. The explosive batter believes his international career was cut short prematurely. “I was 33 when my England career finished, 104 Test matches.
I should have played 150-160 Tests and got 12,000-13,000 runs. That’s what I should have got,” he added, underlining the scale of what he feels was left unfulfilled. Pietersen ended his Test career with 8181 runs at 47.