&imwidth=800&imheight=600&format=webp&quality=medium "Does English Cricket hate IPL? Kevin Pietersen’s explosive remarks spark debate")
Former England captain and a multi-time Ashes winner, Kevin Pietersen, has reignited allegations against his country’s cricket board (ECB) for prematurely ending his international career. KP also hinted at how the board was always jealous of the cash-rich Indian Premier League, and how his close association with the IPL triggered his fallout.
Pietersen was England’s poster boy following the famous 2005 Ashes win at home, later becoming their all-format captain and marquee player. With over 100 Tests to his name, KP last played for England at the age of 33.
The ECB selectors sacked him following the 2013/14 away Ashes, with KP returning to the drawing board (to play for Surrey in the County Championship) later that summer to push a case for his comeback. The then ECB chairman, Colin Graves, hinted at his comeback should he score runs in the domestic circuit. Pietersen chose it over the IPL that season and made headlines with his majestic 355 for Surrey. Although that should have sealed his comeback to the national side, Andrew Strauss informed KP on the same day that he would never play for England again.
Speaking in a conversation with Ranveer Allahbadia, KP said, “I made big sacrifices. I lost my career. That’s the reason why everybody in that establishment went against me.
“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 continued.
Trending Stories
)
‘Centre had no interest in having a debate’: LoP Rahul Gandhi demands resignation of Dharmendra Pradhan, Amit Shah
)
FACT CHECK: Was Abhijit Dipke detained during CJP's Parliament march? Here's what police say
)
3.5-million-year-old mystery creature found in Japan is a 'giant' never seen before
)
Donald Trump heading for a tough midterm elections as approval ratings fall
)
JP Nadda, Jitendra Singh meet Sonam Wangchuk at Medanta Hospital: Report
)
‘He's the architect of the genocide against Palestinians’: Mamdani repeats Netanyahu will be arrested if he visits US
)
Iran strikes Amazon data infrastructure in Bahrain, power, water desalination plants in Kuwait
)
Student union leaders call off hunger strike at Jantar Mantar after civil society appeal, but protest continues
)
'What is wrong...': Anna Hazare breaks silence on Sonam Wangchuk's protest, makes an appeal to Centre
)
Indus treaty can no longer function in its current form, says India; plans 5,500 mw of new J&K hydro projects
)
'We acted immediately...': Indian PM Modi breaks silence on paper leaks as NEET protest, calls for Education Minister's resignation grows
)
'George Soros playbook': Understanding the foreign funding network around Sonam Wangchuk
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why US fighter jets use seamless bubble canopies compared to Russian jets
)
'We're not finished at all': Trump says about attack on Iran, threatens to target underground nuclear complex
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
FIFA World Cup 2026 team of the tournament: The best XI that ruled football’s biggest stage
)
US-Iran war: Iran's precision strikes rock US bases | 17 troops killed as war escalates
)
Before you buy your Odyssey ticket: The difference between IMAX 70mm and digital explained
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (July 20-26, 2026): Musafir Cafe, Adarsh Baal Vidyalaya, 72 Hours- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
2026 FIFA World Cup awards: Full list of Golden Boot, Golden Ball, Golden Glove and every major winner
)
Japan is selling a refrigerator to cool the human body for Rs 9 lakh. It is already a hit in Tokyo
)
Sonam Wangchuk's connection with George Soros and Ford Foundation explained!
)
Preity Zinta backs Sonam Wangchuk and CJP student protests, urges activist to end fast
)
'Rahul Gandhi, Congress shamelessly exploiting students as political tool': Dharmendra Pradhan on protests
)
UP BTech gold medalist dies by suicide after failing in nearly 50 govt job attempts, leaves note for father
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
World's top 7 most liveable cities in 2026 — Check where India and Pakistan stand
)
'Guru is the...': Indian Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan shares message on education amid calls for his resignation
)
Fact Check: Was Naseeruddin Shah in New Delhi for the Jantar Mantar student protest?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
'Eyes before weapons': How the S-400's radar network works
)
Salman Khan breaks silence on health concerns after viral Mumbai appearance
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22’s cockpit glass is thicker than a standard fighter jet
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Meet top 5 batters with most runs in India vs Zimbabwe T20Is
How IPL saved and ruined his cricket career
Pietersen has always been vocal about how IPL saved his cricket career. Referring to his association with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), for whom he made his IPL debut in 2009, KP revealed how batting giant Rahul Dravid helped him revive his fading career after he began struggling against spin. Although that one email from The Wall turned KP into a batting beast, especially against the spinning ball, Pietersen reveals how the same league became a reason for his exit from the England side, eventually ending his cricket career.
Without getting into too many details, KP revealed, “The ECB used The Telegraph to go after me... I don’t want to go too deep into it. It was well publicised, and I live a very happy, peaceful life now.”
