Kevin Pietersen recently revealed his top 5 batsmen. He named Indian cricket icon Sachin Tendulkar and West Indies power hitter Chris Gayle among the top 5 batsmen in the list.

Pietersen recalled Tendulkar’s knock in 2008 after Mumbai attack and said, “… the hundred that he scored against us in Chennai when all odds were against India and he scored that fourth innings hundred… I was the captain. The way that he was able to manipulate, punch the ball (with a) heavy bat just phenomenal.”

He was amazed with Gayle's hitting. "ow hard he hits the ball and how far he hits the ball… I mean just out of this world," he said.

In the video interview with cricket.com.au, Pietersen has put the legendary South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis at the top spot, “Kallis… technique wise unbelievable, batted for hours, magician with the bat in his hands considering he bowled as many overs as he did and stood at second slip.”

Kallis has 13,000 Test runs, more than 11,500 ODI runs and an equally impressive 666 runs in 25 T20Is at 35.05.

Pietersen termed Ponting as ‘phenomenal’ and ‘superstar’, Pietersen placed his former Ashes rival at the second position in his list.

AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli remained together on the fifth spot. “I will put them into a bracket of their own. They epitomise the modern day 360-degree player ability. They hit wherever they want to hit the ball," Pietersen said.