The former England captain, Joe Root, has drawn a bold comparison between modern-day great players and the current red-ball captain of the Blue Brigade, Shubman Gill, following the latter’s successful stint with the bat, where he amassed over 750 runs in five Tests in the United Kingdom against England.

Shubman Gill also led the side incredibly, ending with a 2-2 series margin, including the famous victory during the fifth and final game at the Kennington Oval. Root compares Gill with some of the greatest modern-day players of the game and expects the Punjab-born to reach that level.

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“I think Kane is a wonderful player. I think Steve has been incredible, especially against us. Virat Kohli and Rohit are the same. Shubman Gill, I think, is going to be a very good player across the formats. Harry Brook is another whom I am watching from the other end, and he makes my life so much easier with the pressure he puts on the bowlers.” Root expressed during a recent interaction on Stick To Cricket.

Watch: Joe Root compares Harry Brook with Kevin Pietersen’s aura

Harry Brook is another upcoming superstar for the England side, and Root has compared him with Kevin Pietersen’s aura and demeanor. He reckoned that Brook’s aggressive style of batting could pay the opposition team many ways, where they would mostly look to stop the runs rather than getting him out.

"Gill will be very, very good" 🌟

Joe Root shares which modern day players have impressed him 🏏 pic.twitter.com/lW9GP98Yhc

— Stick to Cricket (@StickToCricket) September 10, 2025

“Harry is pretty similar to KP. When KP used to be at the crease, his aura, demeanor, and presence were intimidating, whereas with Harry, you just don’t know where he could hit the ball. As a bowler, you would think that I would bowl top of the off-stump, and it actually could either go over fine-leg or go over mid-off for a six.”

“You are batting at the other end, thinking it’s Christmas. So many people are trying to control the rate, and in many ways, you try to stop the runs, and when people do that to you mentally as a batting group, it makes life so easier. Then there is no threat from the opposition.”

Chris Gayle, the batting giant of West Indies cricket known for towering sixes and a destructive batting style, recently weighed in on the sport's most iconic cricket shots and the players who executed them. In a YouTube interview with Shubhankar Mishra, Gayle articulated which cricketers, to him, have defined some strokes in cricketing history. The players that he selected gave the fans a nostalgic and memorable glimpse at batting artistry.

For the straight drive, Gayle's first selection was the great Sachin Tendulkar, who is undoubtedly one of the greatest batters of all time. Tendulkar's straight drive has long been considered an example of technical perfection and grace, generally played with the full face of the bat.

From cover drives to switch hits: Gayle’s picks

Gayle selected modern-day master Virat Kohli for his cover drive selection. Kohli's cover drive is touted for his elegance, balance, and timing through the off-side and is currently celebrated as one of the best cover drives in the modern era, and compared to the greats of the past.

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As for the pull shot, Gayle believes that title belongs to India's current captain, Rohit Sharma. At his best, Rohit has made a name for himself with short-pitched bowling. He can pick the length, and he hits the shot so effortlessly that it has become his shot.

For the cut shot, Gayle will give it to the Sri Lankan legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who changed one-day cricket at the top of the order. Jayasuriya could cut in between any of the gaps, especially the point region, with ferocious cuts; he was one of the most dangerous openers to ever play the game. 

Gayle believed the reverse sweep belongs to Andy Flower, who was one of the best players to play the shot. Flower used the reverse sweep not just as a run-scoring option, but also to negate spin, which he was doing in the 1990s and early 2000s, with the switch hit. Gayle gave it to former England player Kevin Pietersen, who made the shot famous during his prime years. The switch hit is one of the most audacious shots in cricket.

Gayle's selections demonstrate how these players excelled individually and transformed batting technique in ways that inspired a generation of cricketers. By recognising these masters of single shots, Gayle recognised both the classical and innovative elements of the game and the continually evolving artistic nature of batting in cricket.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has played a major role in shaping the success of players and franchises over its 18-year journey. Known for unearthing fresh talent each season, the tournament has become a global spectacle, growing in all dimensions from on-field action to commentary and broadcasting. With the rise of social media, its glam quotient has only increased. However, controversies often make their way into the IPL. Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu recently revealed one such incident involving Kevin Pietersen after the IPL 2024 final.

Speaking on a podcast, Rayudu recalled how Pietersen, during a live post-match discussion, referred to him as a “Joker” on-air. This remark soon became a hot topic of conversation, given the stature of both players and the public nature of the incident. Rayudu, however, chose to clarify the matter during the podcast, explaining the context of the event while also highlighting how such moments can easily be blown out of proportion when aired live on television.

See Also: Watch: Virat Kohli’s cover drives capturing 17 years legacy

Despite the controversy, former India player didn’t shy away from giving a witty response to Pietersen. He expressed his delight over Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally winning their maiden IPL title after 18 years, cheekily reminding Pietersen of his long stint with the franchise without success. He admitted that he could have said much more in the moment but preferred restraint. Eventually, Pietersen realised his mistake, accepted responsibility, and offered an apology, putting an end to the heated episode in a respectful manner.

IPL had several controveries in the past

The Indian Premier League (IPL) has never been short of controversies since its inception with eight teams, later expanding due to its massive success. One of the most talked-about moments came during Ravichandran Ashwin’s infamous “Mankading” incident in a clash between Rajasthan Royals and Kings XI Punjab. Jos Buttler, then batting in top form, stepped out of the non-striker’s crease, only for Ashwin to whip off the bails without hesitation. The dismissal sparked outrage and divided opinions, becoming one of the most debated moments in IPL history.

Another high-profile controversy occurred in IPL 2013, when Yusuf Pathan became the first player to be ruled out for “obstructing the field.” During a Kolkata Knight Riders versus Pune Warriors India clash, Pathan struck the ball straight to a fielder and ran but instinctively blocked the ball with his hand. The opposition appealed, and after video review, the third umpire declared him out. This decision triggered debates on whether his action was deliberate or instinctive. With social media amplifying reactions, such incidents, including Rayudu’s spat with Kevin Pietersen, continue fueling discussions far beyond the cricket field.

Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Kevin Pietersen are at loggerheads over whether Test cricket has become easier in the modern era. The debate began after Kevin Pietersen claimed that batting in Test cricket was far more difficult 20–25 years ago than it is now. According to him, the level of bowling during his time made scoring runs significantly harder.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the 45-year-old backed his argument by listing 22 legendary bowlers from that era and challenged fans to name 10 current bowlers who could match their caliber. “Waqar [Younis], Shoaib [Akhtar], [Wasim] Akram, [Saqlain] Mushtaq, [Anil] Kumble, [Javagal] Srinath, Harbhajan [Singh], [Allan] Donald, [Shaun] Pollock, [Lance] Klusener, [Darren] Gough, [Glenn] McGrath, [Brett] Lee, [Shane] Warne, [Jason] Gillespie, [Shane] Bond, [Daniel] Vettori, [Chris] Cairns, Chaminda Vaas, Muttiah Murali[tharan], Curtley [Ambrose], Courtney [Walsh] and the list could go on and on… I’ve named 22 above. Please name me 10 modern-day bowlers that can compare to the names above.” Pietersen wrote.

However, Michael Vaughan hit back strongly and dismissed Pietersen’s comments during a live show on Sony Sports Network. Vaughan said, “I think he’s talking nonsense.” He argued that Test cricket remains extremely challenging and that the quality of bowling in the current era is on par with any previous generation. Vaughan highlighted today’s elite bowling units, particularly praising India’s Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, along with Australia’s renowned trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood.

Vaughan Defends Modern Bowlers, Calls Test Cricket Competitive

Vaughan didn’t stop there. He also lauded South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen and New Zealand’s Tim Southee and Trent Boult. “You look at the Indian seamers now; they are as good as they ever were. You look at the Australian attack; that trio that Australia had is as good as they have had. You go to South Africa, Rabada and Jansen. You go to New Zealand, Boult, Southee,” he said.

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Vaughan stressed that Test cricket has remained exciting and competitive in recent years. He also noted that modern batters play with more aggression and bravery. “I’ve loved the last few years of Test match cricket because it has been competitive. I don’t think it has been any easier than any other era. You still have to score runs. Irrespective of the bowling you are facing, you still have to go get the runs.” He concluded, “Don’t take anything away from the current players. Look at the way they have batted. They have batted with a lot more aggression than earlier times, maybe not during Kevin Pietersen’s time.”

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.

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‘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.