Former England batter Kevin Pietersen shares a very healthy camaraderie with ex-India skipper MS Dhoni. Both of them are witty in nature and never miss a chance to pull each other’s legs.
During the 2017 edition of IPL, Pietersen was part of the commentary team. In one of the games, he was speaking on the microphone to Dhoni’s teammate Manoj Tiwary.
“Manoj, just tell MS that I am a better golfer than him,” Pietersen told Tiwary, who duly conveyed the message to Dhoni.
“He’s still my first Test wicket,” Dhoni immediately shot back, drawing laughs from the commentary box, including from Pietersen himself.
Dhoni’s response was a reference to him inducing the on-field umpire to raise finger after the then India captain thudded an in-swinger onto Pietersen’s pads. The decision, however, was overturned by the third umpire after the English batter opted for a review.
On Tuesday (May 16), Kevin Pietersen reiterated the same through a tweet. “I’m actively seeking the clip from the Test match at Lords to put to bed all these claims that I WAS Dhoni’s first Test Wicket. I hate to break it to you – I WASN’T!” he posted on the micro-blogging site.
Pietersen also shared a video of the incident with the caption, “The evidence is CLEAR! I was NOT Dhoni’s first Test wicket. Nice ball though, MS! Thanks for sending this through, @SkyCricket.”
Kevin Pietersen is part of the commentary team in the ongoing IPL season as well. He was present at the MA Chidambaram Stadium for CSK’s final home game of the season on Sunday (May 14).
After the game, Pietersen hailed Dhoni and called him an inspiring person who cares so much for the team.
“He is inspiring. You want to play well for him. You want to be the best version of himself in a team that he is captaining. We have seen that for however many years. He cares so much and when the captain cares so much, everybody starts to feel it. It resonates,” Pietersen said on Star Sports.
“Look at the people who have stayed back to see, to try and touch him because of the person that he is. He is also an incredible human being away from the cricket field. These are wonderful scenes, hugely emotional seasons. This is such a fabulous gesture,” he added.
