File Pic: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Players (Image Credit: RCB) NEW DELHI: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has made a startling revelation about the sudden end to his international career, claiming his decision to favor the Indian Premier League led to a fallout with the organization that ultimately cost him a place in the national team.In a candid interaction with Ranveer Allahbadia, Pietersen reflected on the sacrifices he made in the late 2000s when the England and Wales Cricket Board was reluctant to allow centrally contracted players to feature in the IPL. His attitude, he says, triggered a long-running conflict that shaped the final phase of his trip to England.“I made big sacrifices, I lost my career”Pietersen, who has been responsible for today’s England cricketers playing in the IPL, did not hold back while narrating the episode. “I made big sacrifices. I lost my career. That’s why everyone in the business went against me,” he said.The explosive batsman believes his international career has been prematurely cut short. “I was 33 when my England career ended, 104 Test matches. I should have played 150-160 Tests and scored 12,000-13,000 runs. I should have got that,” he added, underscoring the extent of what he felt remained unfulfilled.Pietersen ended his Test career with 8181 runs at an average of 47.28, which included 23 hundreds and 35 fifties. Pietersen’s decision to play in the IPL when it clashed with England commitments led to a power struggle with the board, with the matter becoming a highly publicized point in English cricket.Opening doors for future generationsDespite the personal cost, Pietersen believes his attitude paved the way for modern England players to freely participate in franchise leagues. “I interviewed Jos Buttler a few days ago and he also said ‘thank you’. Because of all the sacrifices I have made, these guys can have the fruits now,” he revealed.He also indicated the intensity of the conflict at the time. “The ECB used The Telegraph to go after me… I don’t want to go too deep into it. It was well publicized and I’m now living a very happy, peaceful life,” Pietersen said.After making his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009, Pietersen has enjoyed successful stints in T20 leagues around the world since his departure from England.Also See: KKR vs PBKS Live Score
