England posted a below-par 304 on a flat Cuttack pitch during the second ODI.
The Three Lions lost the T20I series 1-4 and now trailing 0-2 in the ODI series. The visitors posted a below-par 304 on a flat Cuttack pitch during the second ODI after openers Ben Duckett and Phil Salt made the most of the powerplay.
While Ben Duckett (65) and Joe Root (69) managed to score half-centuries, they failed to reach the three-figure mark. England ended up losing the match by four wickets as India overhauled the target in 44.3 overs.
Pietersen didn't mince his words while criticizing the touring batters. He suggested that their mindset is not to score big runs and they are pleased with half-centuries to retain their places in the XI.
"It seems to me there's just a lack of hunger and a lack of desire to go and get that 130, 140. That's what's missing. Like, it's just too easy. Get 40, get 50, get 60. That's cool. Everything's fine. Got my 50, got my 60. I'll probably play the next game. If I don't, I'll have the day off and go and play golf, and I'm gonna do what I like," Pietersen told the broadcasters during the innings break.
In the first ODI, Jos Buttler (52), Jacob Brethell (51), and Phil Salt (43) failed to convert their starts into big scores as England couldn’t cross the 300-run mark.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill played an 87-run knock for India in the series opener while captain Rohit Sharma smashed a dazzling century (119) in the Cuttack ODI.
According to Pietersen, the English batters don't have the hunger to get big score and are a bit ruthless in their approach to take the team over 350.
"It just seems to me like they're just lacking that bit of something that says, 'Hey, man, come on. Let's get that 100, let's get that 130.' This team here should be scoring 350 today. That's what they should be doing. 304, they might still win this game. They've got a very good chance of still winning this game, but they should be able to be ruthless and get that 350, 360 because they're good enough," he remarked.
The third ODI between India and England will be played in Ahmedabad on Wednesday (February 12).