How IPL has changed the fortunes for Kevin Pietersen

When KEVIN PIETERSEN took over the reins of England captaincy midway through the npower series with South Africa in August 2008 when Michael VaughanMichael Vaughan had to abruptly step down on the heels of England’s continued poor showing, newspapers had announced that the English cricket loving public would be in for a “Kevolution” of sorts.

Such were the expectations from maverick KP. Public did get to see sheer flashes of brilliance, cricket at its unorthodox best – during the very short tenure that Pietersen enjoyed at the helm of English cricket team’s affairs. At the end of India tour as year 2008 ended, KP got dumped as captain over his infamous spat with England coach Peter MooresPeter Moores over issues related to running the team’s show. Moores himself was shown the door while KP was back in the team as a mere player.

This time around, it were the newspaper comics who screamed while writing such punchlines as “The recession’s getting worse – even Kevin PietersenKevin Pietersen’s lost his job” and “”That’s very poor shot selection, KP”, a cartoon which showed a hole in a cricketer’s leg indicating that Pietersen had shot himself badly in his own leg!!

But the tide turned and how. Soon, KP and his equally maverick team-mate, Andrew FlintoffAndrew Flintoff ruled the roost at the IPL-2 hustings garnering the highest bids, an astronomical $1.55 million each, which eclipsed the last year’s highest bid of $ 1.5 million which had gone to Freddie’s Team Chennai captain, Mahendra Singh DhoniMahendra Singh Dhoni.

Cartoons played silly again. One of them showed KP and Freddie holed out in their hotel room catching up on the IPL-2 auction news on telly while a newspaper (lying on a table in front of the players) headline screams “Pietersen Misses Century. Out on 97”, trying to hint that the mind of English players, especially KP and Freddie was in Goa (India) where the IPL auction was on and not in the game being played out in the Windies.

But KP being KP has always had the last laugh. He has now won the captaincy from Rahul DravidRahul Dravid of his IPL team, Royal Challengers Bangalore. With him being handpicked by the boss of all mavericks, Vijay MallyaVijay Mallya, owner of Team Bangalore – who is known to repose extreme faith in KP - we can except Pietersen to be given a free hand in running the team’s affairs at IPL-2.

Since a free reign is what geniuses need to display their talent, it wouldn’t be a surprise if KP turns the tide for Royal Challengers Bangalore – who were amongst the worst performers in IPL-1 last year – and emerges victors in this year’s edition of the grand T20 tournament.

To me, even if Team Bangalore makes it to the semi finals, KP would have done his job.

- myVox