Kevin Pietersen comes to India “so often” that it has become a “bit of second home” to him. He might have been nothing more than a passive participant in this edition of the Indian Premier league, but the Delhi Daredevils recruit has managed to keep himself seen and heard.
More than adept at playing to the gallery, the South Africa-born English cricketer was visibly glad to be in the Capital once again, even if for a promotional event. Though blending well with the concerned company’s decor in his all blacks, the 6’4” cricketer still stood out among the Japanese company officials and the Indian scribes. Towering over all, this constantly-smiling and politically correct version of KP was indeed different than what the world has come to love or hate.
Though agreed that being in the country you have to be a bit cautious while saying anything about Sachin Tendulkar lest you kick up a storm, but his approach regarding the Ashes and everything else seemed to be too cautious by his standards.
So when he said that it was “flattering to hear” his absence had dented Daredevils chances, it sounded very unlike KP. “I don’t think one person makes a team,” he added, when one would have been actually expecting him to be blunt and humorous enough to ask all not to blame his poor knee for the Daredevils campaign.
“Mathematically, we can still make it,” Pietersen spoke like a true team person of Daredevils chances of making it to the knock-out stage; at his unveiling as the brand ambassador for Japanese watch company Citizen here. “We also didn’t have Viru (Sehwag) for the initial matches, Morne (Morkel) and Roelof (Van der Merwe) had domestic commitments. Also what happened to Jesse made us slow starters. But the boys are gaining confidence.”
Thankfully, he didn’t choose to continue with the emotion when it came to picking a probable champion for this IPl 6. “Difficult call but I will go with Chennai. While I am surprised that KKR are doing so badly, I will be a fool to bet against CSK considering that one Qualifier and the final will be played at the Eden Gardens, which is so similar to Chennai,” he said, adding that MS Dhoni’s captaincy kept the two-time champions and 2011 runners-up in good stead.
“It’s a very good team captained by MS, who is such a clever skipper in Indian conditions,” he said. “Besides him making a huge impact with the bat, they have also got quality spinners for the tracks on which they are playing. Mike (Hussey) is a superstar with the bat too.”
Though his reserved interpretation continued on the topic of the approaching Ashes too, he tried to get the gathering involved during intra-event trophy presentation by grinningly asking them to join him in cheering the winners, but to little effect.
Off his braces for last 10 days, Pietersen was confident that he would be “up and firing by June”, giving him enough time to prepare for the Ashes. “The body is healing well. I didn’t want to take any risk (Champions Trophy) but I will be up and firing by the time Ashes starts. Whenever the England and the Australian players put their respective shirts on, it’s different battle which is fascinating to watch,” spoke the ever-controversy igniting player in a completely placid tone.
The world might take some time, but it seems a certain KP has definitely changed. For the good or the bad, is difficult to say.