<p><strong>Kevin Pietersen hails the IPL as a “great Indian academy” – Cricket News Update</strong></p>
<p>The prolific England batsman, Kevin Pietersen, who is playing for the Delhi Daredevils in the latest edition of the money-spinning Indian Premier League (IPL) has hailed the tournament for providing players exposure to different players under one umbrella.</p>
<p>In an exclusive interview to CNN-IBN on Wednesday, the 31-year-old South Africa-born top order batsman called the esteemed Twenty20 event as a great Indian academy for the emerging Indian players, and wants the idea to be instilled in England’s domestic
circuit as well.</p>
<p> “It's a great Indian academy as well for the young Indians,” said the hard-hitting top order batsman. “For the international players, we love it as well. It's actually quite a release from our international hectic, pressurized schedule,” he added further.</p>
<p>KP along with Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, missed the opening week of the ongoing season five of the cash-rich league due to his national commitments, and joined the Delhi Daredevils squad ahead of their third game on Tuesday.</p>
<p>"To come over here and play against a guy like Mahela on a Saturday and to bat with somebody like Mahela on a Tuesday and then bat with a Virender Sehwag ... it's a great experience,” said KP referring to the recently concluded two-match series against Sri
Lanka, which ended 1-1.</p>
<p>The right-hander, who made a startling start to season five with a match winning unbeaten 43 against the Chennai Super Kings, expressed his desire to play a full season for the Delhi Daredevils.</p>
<p>The Natal-born right-handed batsman, who missed the 2011 season of the IPL for the Deccan Chargers due to health issues, was sad that many of his English teammates were not playing in the tournament. KP said that the tournament provides foreign players an
opportunity to play in Subcontinent conditions, which ultimately benefits their country as well.</p>
<p>“To come here, have lot of option of training, have lot of optional duties, play Twenty20 cricket, have some fun and enjoyment, it's brilliant. I think it's a fantastic contest," said the lanky batsman adding that playing in IPL5 would have provided the
English team the much needed practice ahead of a crucial tour of India later this year.</p>
<p>England is scheduled to play four Tests and seven One Day Internationals against India in India in November-December this year.</p>
Tags: