Since Ben Stokes and his entire England side went hard at Ravindra Jadeja and Washington Sundar, the two Indian batters, for not accepting their proposal of calling the fourth Test at Old Trafford in Manchester off, every lens has viewed the situation in various ways, as comments have come on which camp they belong to. 

Many reckoned that Stokes, the Durham player and the captain, was right to shake hands, given his bowlers were dead on their feet. His action came just after a flashing drive from Washington Sundar smashed Ben Duckett on his arms while fielding at the silly point. Kevin Pietersen, the former batter, has come to the defense of Stokes on his social media account.

See Also: [WATCH] 'Double Standard...'- Ravichandran Ashwin reacts to India not accepting England's proposal to draw ENG vs IND 4th Test

‘2 days fielding and no result on the cards - you WANT to get off the field! You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration. Very easy to have a pop at him when you’re sitting in your lounge watching. You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.’ Pietersen wrote on his ‘X’ handled (formerly known as Twitter).

Kevin Pietersen defends Ben Stokes' behavior after India refuses to accept draw proposal in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

Stokes, later, coming into the press conference, admitted that he was not ready to use any of his frontline pacers in the game, given that they will turn up again for the fifth and final contest at the Kennington Oval in South London in three days. That was why Harry Brook was introduced into the attack.

2 days fielding and no result on the cards - you WANT to get off the field!
You cannot have a pop at Ben Stokes for his frustration.
Very easy to have a pop at him when you’re sitting in your lounge watching.
You’re NOT in the battle. Leave the men in the ring to be emotional.

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 28, 2025

Jadeja smashed a couple of sixes in that over and celebrated his second Test century in England after his maiden hundred at Edgbaston in 2022, while Sundar, who was strangled on 95 and 86 in the past, finally notched up his maiden red-ball century. It’s a huge boost for the tourists going into South London.

The series now stands at 2-1 with the home side enjoying the lead. But India will still have a chance to walk away with the 2-2 margin if they display another special show at the Oval.

The third day of the fourth Test between England and India at Old Trafford in Manchester was all about the former captain, Joe Root, who surpassed Ricky Ponting, Jacques Kallis, and Rahul Dravid to become the second leading run-getter in the longest format, as he now has only Sachin Tendulkar to chase in the list. 

Later in the evening, Root equaled Kumar Sangakkara to celebrate the fourth most centuries (38) in the five-day format. It was a dreamy day for the right-handed batter, who shouldered England to a strong position with the bat as they had already taken a lead of 186 runs. But Kevin Pietersen, the former England batter, has dropped a shocking remark on his social media account regarding the comparison of batters.

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‘Don’t shout at me, but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then! Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali, Curtley, Courtney, and the list could go on and on.’ Pietersen wrote on his ‘X’ account (formerly known as Twitter).

Former England star makes shocking remark during Eng vs Ind 4th Test in Manchester

‘I’ve named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern-day bowlers that can compare to the names above?’ Pietersen addressed. Root has smashed 13409 runs in 286 innings of the red-ball format at the moment at an average of 51.17 and a strike rate of 57.40, having scored 38 centuries and 66 half-centuries at the best score of 262 runs.

Don’t shout at me but batting these days is way easier than 20/25 years ago! Probably twice as hard back then!

Waqar, Shoaib, Akram, Mushtaq, Kumble, Srinath, Harbhajan, Donald, Pollock, Klusener, Gough, McGrath, Lee, Warne, Gillespie, Bond, Vettori, Cairns, Vaas, Murali,…

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 26, 2025

Root is around 2500 runs behind India’s Sachin Tendulkar in the list, who finished with 15921 runs in 329 innings at an average of 53.78, thanks to 51 centuries and 68 fifties at the best score of unbeaten 248 runs. Pietersen has made a shocking remark, given that the modern era has also seen some of the best bowlers.

Against India, Root faced Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, along with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Pat Cummins are playing for a long time, but Root will hope to notch up his first Test century down under during the Ashes 2025/26.

The former England batter, Kevin Pietersen, has given his series result for the five Tests between England and India. He has given a stern warning to the Indian side, besides passing his judgment on the result of the series. He reckoned that if the home side keeps on batting till the end of the day’s play, then it would be over for the tourists.

His comments came after the visitors made a wayward start with the new ball in their first innings of bowling at Old Trafford in Manchester. Even Jasprit Bumrah looked way off his line and length while Mohammed Siraj and debutant Anshul Kamboj kept providing balls on the legs as both home openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, kept nailing them at a run rate of over five.

See Also: [WATCH] 'England may want...'- Former Australia player predicts England's plan in ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester

‘England bat all of today, series over - England win.’ Kevin Pietersen expressed his view on X (formerly known as Twitter). The Ben Stokes-led side didn’t show their aggressive batting during the third fixture of the series at Lord’s, but came out with guns blazing from both ends.

Kevin Pietersen gives verdict on ENG vs IND 2025 series result with this condition

Winning the toss, the home captain, Ben Stokes, decided to bat first, despite knowing that it wasn’t a good surface to bat on in the fourth innings. Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul took India off to a good start before the latter got a brilliant delivery to get dismissed. A lazy defensive shot from Jaiswal brought his end as they kept losing wickets regularly.

England bat all of today, series over - England win.

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 25, 2025

Rishabh Pant, who left the field on the opening day after his premeditated reverse sweep hit the bridge of the foot, made a courageous comeback on the second day to smash a fine half-century to carry them over the 350-run mark.

Crawley wasn’t in a great touch during the series, but he showed great awareness in the field and kept nailing the bowlers all around the park. He scored 84 before getting an outside edge into the slip region while Duckett, on 94, was surprised by the extra bounce and was caught by the wicket-keeper, getting an outside edge.

A milestone match in the history of Test cricket, a milestone Test between India and England, memorable for individuals like Kevin Pietersen, Praveen Kumar, and James Anderson.

On July 25, 2011, the conclusion of another England vs India rivalry, where Pietersen got his Test double century. Praveen Kumar and James Anderson established their names in the honorary board for their brilliant bowling and claimed 5 wickets each in their respective innings. 

Kevin's unbeaten 202-run innings was well supported by Jonathan Trott's 70 and Matt Prior's 71. On the other end, Praveen was the bowler for India, taking 5 wickets, and Zaheer Khan got a brace. After an entertaining 1st innings, the home team got 474/8d on the scoreboard. Rahul Dravid's solitary 103 not out was the only talking point of India's first innings. The top-notch pace bowling of England restricted India to 286 on the scorecard.

Read More: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 4th Test: Ben Duckett's quick sharp catch at gully dismissed Shardul Thakur

Another century in the second innings 

With Matt Prior's 103-run innings, Andrew Strauss's led team increased their lead comfortably. At that point, India needed to show some resilience to be anchored in the middle. James Anderson and Stuart Broad did not allow them to do that.

Anderson's 5-for and Broad's 3-wicket spell helped their team to bundle India on only 261. In this phase of the match, Suresh Raina was the top scorer for Team India with 78, and VVS Laxman also played a fifty-plus innings. But the rest of the batting unit was unimpressive. As the deserving side, England won the match by 196 runs.

Milestones touched in the match:

- 2000th Test.

- 100th Test between England and India.

- Duncan Fletcher's 100th Test as coach.

- Pietersen gets his first century at home in three years.

Since the International Cricket Council (ICC) rewarded England with the World Test Championship (WTC) finals for the next three seasons, questions and controversies have started to grow on whether India should have been given a chance, along with Australia, to host the final of the tournament. The former leader, Rohit Sharma, also asked the question of why the tournament gets staged only in England in June.

However, the former England batter, Kevin Pietersen, has sued his social media to make a huge statement as he felt that this country would be the rightful place to house the next three seasons’ final of the WTC. To back up the words, the South Africa-born guaranteed the full houses for the first four days of a red-ball fixture.

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‘England is the rightful place to house the next 3 cycles of the World Test Championship Finals. It’s the only country that can guarantee full houses for the first 4 days.’ Pietersen expressed on his X handle, formerly known as Twitter. These remarks came after the final between South Africa and Australia recorded the highest-ever viewership on digital with 225 million views.

Former England player drops huge statement on England hosting three finals of upcoming WTC cycles

The venue for the three finals of the championship has yet to be confirmed. But looking at the history and prestige suggests that Lord’s will be a strong contender to host the game in the next three editions. However, the north venues will remain in contention with no Ashes Test scheduled in 2027 in the north of Nottingham.

England is the rightful place to house the next 3 cycles of the World Test Championship Finals. It’s the only country that can guarantee full houses for the first 4 days.

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 22, 2025

One of the vital reasons for England to get the opportunity is the weather, which is well-suited to the game in June. More importantly, the time zone is friendly for the broadcasters, who enjoy a heavy telecast in India during the afternoon. In India, it’s hard to attract a certain amount of fans if their country doesn’t qualify for the final.

Ticket-selling is very important for these prospects. In the Lord’s final of the 2025 season, the MCC, which cut the ticket price at Lord’s, saw more than 75000 fans turn up in the first three days. It perhaps remains the last country where the charm of the longest format is yet to die, even for a Test match between two neutral sides.  

Sarfaraz Khan's inspirational weight loss transformation journey has left everyone in awe. The young wicket keeper batter, who once had to face the wrath of his selectors and his higher-ups, has put in some hard hards at the gym to get his body shape in order. As unbelievable as it may sound, Sarfaraz has shed around 17 kilos in the last couple of months. 

Despite a promising start to his test career, the 27-year-old was left out of the England tour, with his fitness contributing to half the reason for his exclusion. Instead, the management leaned more towards Sai Sudharshan and India's second triple centurion, Karun Nair, and included them for the ongoing England Test tour. 

Sarfaraz Khan has long battled criticism over his fitness, particularly his weight, a factor that many believe delayed his Test debut despite consistent performances in domestic cricket. But after an incredible turnaround in his fitness, experts predict Sarfaraz's imminent return to the Indian Test squad. 

See also: Watch: Sarfaraz's hilarious celebration after mix-up with Pant leaves NZ fuming

KP lauds Sarfaraz for achieving his fitness goals

While Sarfaraz's drastic weight loss transformation left many experts and former cricketers awestruck, England's Kevin Pietersen was far more impressed than anyone else. The former England legend personally felt happy for him and praised him for prioritizing his fitness, in a bid to excel in his game. KP hopes that his rejuvenated fitness levels will bring about positive results for him in the form of consistent on-field performances. 

Outstanding effort, young man! Huge congrats and I’m sure it’s going to lead to better and more consistent performances on the field. I love the time you’ve spent reorganising your priorities!
LFG! 🚀
Can someone show Prithvi this please?
It can be done!
Strong body, strong… https://t.co/U6KbUXlfVf

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 21, 2025

However, at the same time, KP did not refrain from taking a dig at Prithvi Shaw either. The Mumbai-based batter has faded away from the grand scheme of things, primarily on fitness grounds. Not so long ago, both Sarfaraz and Shaw found themselves on a similar boat, struggling with fitness woes. While the former has shown that it is possible to achieve physical transformation, KP does encourage Shaw to take a leaf out of his book and start taking fitness seriously, in an effort to make an international comeback.

Kevin Pietersen had some nice things to say about KL Rahul. He called Rahul “absolute quality,” not just as a cricketer but also as a person. Pietersen talked about how much he enjoyed working with Rahul over the past few months, saying it has been a “wonderful journey.” He said he always knew Rahul was a good batter, but getting to know him better made him realise what a good person he is, too.

K.L Rahul is known for his calm, classic batting, and he has become one of India’s most dependable players. But Pietersen’s words show there’s more to Rahul than just his runs. They show that he’s someone people enjoy spending time with and respect for who he is. The two have spent time together doing commentary and other cricket work. Pietersen’s words suggest they have built a real friendship during this time.

Kevin Pietersen said "KL Rahul is absolute quality - as a guy, I knew him as a batter, when I got an opportunity to friend with him & work with him in last few months, it's being a wonderful journey". [RevSportz] pic.twitter.com/KMzq1eFCiB

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) July 9, 2025

Kevin Pietersen Calls KL Rahul “Absolute Quality” On and Off the Field

For fans, it’s always good to see players from different countries getting along well. Rahul has had his share of tough times, including injuries and strong competition for team spots. But he stayed calm and focused in the game, earning respect from teammates and former players with his gameplay and his friendly nature off the field and on the field.

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Kevin Pietersen said "KL Rahul is absolute quality - as a guy, I knew him as a batter, when I got an opportunity to friend with him & work with him in last few months, it's being a wonderful journey

 Pietersen’s praise is just another sign of how highly Rahul is regarded. For Rahul, hearing such words from someone like Pietersen must feel special. And for fans, it’s another reason to support him as he keeps playing and leading for India. It’s clear he truly is “absolute quality” on and off the field.

The former England legendary batter, Kevin Pietersen, has drawn a comparison between the current Indian Test captain, Shubman Gill, and the former South Africa all-rounder, Jacques Kallis, after the former played two sensational knocks to set the platform for the Blue Brigade in their 336-run victory of the second Edgbaston Test to level the series at 1-1. 

Pietersen reckoned that just like Kallis didn’t perform at the start of his career and the management decided to give him a long rope, it was important for the selectors and coaches to stay calm with Shubman Gill, who couldn’t crack the red-ball formula at the beginning of his career. However, KP was trolled several times for making this comparison, and he reminded us of the same.

SEE ALSO: 'I think he will...' - Former England legend predicts whether Jofra Archer will play or not at Lord's Test

“I haven’t seen him bat. I haven’t watched any cricket. But I am not surprised to see his numbers. And I put my head on the block a few years ago saying that please back Shubman Gill. I said Jacques Kallis started very slowly and turned out to be an absolute superstar. And in Vizag, I told him on Star that he should please relax, chill, and back him. And he got a hundred the next day. He just oozes quality.” Pietersen expressed in London during a dinner party.

Kevin Pietersen compares Shubman Gill with Jacques Kallis

Shubman, before the start of the England series, was averaging 35 in the red-ball format. He had his issues due to various technical failures and batting on tough surfaces against quality bowlers. But once he has taken on the leadership responsibility, the 25-year-old has looked like a different campaigner with the bat. His average after four innings has flown up to 42.

In the first innings of the opening Leeds Test of the series, Gill cracked 147 with the bat. That was a period when India lost two successive wickets in the first session and had to bear with some fabulous bowling from the home side without losing any wickets. Gill’s change of stance has brought success for him, and it could bring more joy to his numbers.

#WATCH | London | On Team India test captain Shubman Gill's performance, Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen says, "...I am not surprised to see his numbers. I put my head on a block a few years ago, saying please back Shubman Gill. Jacques Kallis started very slowly and… pic.twitter.com/po0PTyYjHz

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2025

The Gujarat Titans’ captain extended the purple patch in the second fixture with 269 in the first innings, followed by a 161 in the second at Edgbaston. Whether it’s about attacking the bowlers or soaking pressure, he was equally good on all occasions. Now his challenge moves to hold this form in the third clash at Lord’s.

English batting stalwart Kevin Pietersen heaped massive praise on South African opener Aiden Markram following his match-winning century in the fourth innings of the World Test Championship (WTC) Final, which derailed the defending champions Australia by a margin of five wickets. His innings had the inscription of skill, class, and resilience written all over it. In the epic WTC Final run chase, Markram left no scope for any slip-ups and toiled hard over 370 minutes to score 136 runs in 207 balls, thus single-handedly setting the game for the Proteas. 

See also: WTC Final 2025: Aiden Markram reveals how the T20 World Cup heartbreak propelled him onto the path of glory

Markram's WTC Final ton leaves Pietersen awestruck

During his recent interaction with JioHotstar (via ANI), Pietersen made a confession in regards to Markram's knock, calling it the best knock by any South African in Test cricket. The cricketer-turned-commentator was amazed to see the way Markram went about absorbing the pressure and how successfully he was able to overcome the failures of the first innings.  

"Probably the best innings any South African batter has ever played in Test match cricket. It might not go down as the most attacking or entertaining if you look back at South Africa's Test history -- but when you factor in the expectation, the stage, and the pressure after failing in the first innings, it was extraordinary."

Apart from taking South Africa to glory, Markram also managed to unlock some new milestones in Test cricket. He made it to the elite list of the highest score achieved by any visiting batter in the fourth innings of the Lord's Test. The 30-year-old shares the third spot in the list along with Michael Clarke of Australia.

This was Markram's third Test century in the fourth innings. The 30-year-old now has the second-highest number of Test centuries in the fourth innings of the Test match after Sunil Gavaskar (4) and Graeme Smith (4). Pietersen highlighted that Markram was under immense pressure early doors when he lost Rickelton and Mulder in quick succession. But his calm demeanour and his mental toughness brought the mighty Aussies down on their news in the mega WTC Final.

The Delhi Capitals (DC) squad before their match against Sunrisers Hyderabad was engaged with their fans through an event. The DC players had to fulfill their fans' demands as well. In the event, club mentor Kevin Pietersen was spotted dancing to a recently famous song, 'Chicken Banana.' 

Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel, KL Rahul, Kevin Pietersen, and Faf du Plessis were present on the stage when the host of the show asked the former England international to dance with a lady fan on the viral 'Banana Chicken' song. Hearing the request, KP first hesitates to do this, but he has no choice left then. So he stood up from his chair and started to step in along with the fan.

The request came in to make a reel. Axar Patel, KL Rahul, and other DC members were all laughing their hearts out when they saw the steps of KP. Faf du Plessis also participated in the song and danced with KP. Faf was actually enjoying the moment. DC fans loved the way Pietersen moves, and they started to chant 'once more,' and he nailed it again. 

Read More: Who scored fastest fifty in IPL? Check out top 10 fastest half-centuries in history of IPL

Delhi Capitals will take on a fresh Sunrisers Hyderabad 

Delhi Capitals are currently in a crucial position in the IPL 2025 points table. They are ready to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) tomorrow (May 5) evening. SRH, despite the underwhelming run so far, can be dangerous against DC. SRH will be ready to start with fresh minds after spending a small vacation.

Watch KP's Chicken Banana dance here

We manifested and actually got KP doing chicken-banana dance before GTA 6 😂💙 pic.twitter.com/8cuPZzdR6u

— Delhi Capitals (@DelhiCapitals) May 4, 2025

The Axar Patel-led side is in 5th spot with 12 points after 10 matches and must secure another 2 points to intensify the race to the playoffs. In their last 5 games, the Capitals lost thrice. If they are able to outperform Hyderabad tomorrow, then DC will have 14 points along with their name.