Kevin Pietersen has questioned England batters’ commitment to scoring big knocks, saying everyone except Joe Root lacks ‘hunger’ and ‘desire’ to contribute to the team. He even said that most players have it ‘too easy’ because they think when they fail, they can ‘have the day off and play golf’.
Kevin Pietersen went on this angry rant after the first innings of the 2nd 2025 ODI between India and England in Cuttack on Sunday. The visitors were bowled out for 304 in 49.5 overs with Root and Ben Duckett top-scoring with 69 (72) and 65 (56), both of whom got out against the run of play. It was the fifth time England got bowled out in this eight-match white-ball series, while failing to take all 10 Indian wickets even once.
England could only mustered 304 runs to eventually lose by 4 wickets vs India
Kevin Pietersen lashed out at the English batters for another below-par performance in the ongoing India tour as the visitors suffered an ODI series defeat with one match left in the series. Jos Buttler and co. lost the T20I series 1-4 and now trailing three-match series 0-2.
England failed to capitalize in the second ODI after winning the toss as they posted a below-par 304 on a flat Cuttack surface. Ben Duckett (65) and Joe Root (69) did breach the fifty-run mark but failed to convert them into triple-digit scores as England ended up losing the match by 4 wickets as India chased down the target with 33 balls to spare.
In the first ODI, Jos Buttler (52), Jacob Bethell (51), and Phil Salt (43) were also set but failed to convert them into big scores as England failed to breach the 300-run mark. Meanwhile, for India, Shubman Gill got close to a century in the series opener with an 87-run knock, while Rohit Sharma smashed a blistering century in Cuttack while chasing targets.
Kevin Pietersen didn’t hold back while launching a rant on the England batters and suggested that their mindset is not to score big runs and that they are satisfied with half-centuries to retain their places in the XI.
Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen slams visiting batters for lack of hunger in IND vs ENG 2025 2nd ODI
Former cricketer Kevin Pietersen has criticized England batters for their lack of intent to grind and convert their scores in the ODI series against India. Jos Buttler and co. put up a spirited display with the bat compared to the series opener, but gave away control from a comprehensive position to end with 304 runs at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday, February 9.
England were comfortably placed after the end of the first powerplay as Phil Salt and Ben Duckett put up yet another dominating partnership for the first wicket. The pair scored 81 runs in 10.5 overs, while Ben Duckett went on to score a fifty. The left-handed batter looked in sublime touch, but could not convert his start after trying to take on Ravindra Jadeja straightaway.
Joe Root played the anchor role to register a fifty at one end, but the likes of Harry Brook and Jos Buttler perished after establishing a start. The lower order largely crumbled, with Liam Livingstone scoring a cameo to push England’s total past the 300-run mark.
England arguably failed to make the most of the good batting surface and the solid foundation that was put on. Kevin Pietersen blamed the lack of hunger by the batters, and demanded more accountability.
“It seems to me there’s just a lack of hunger and a lack of desire to go and get that 130, 140. That’s what’s missing. Like, it’s just too easy. Get 40, get 50, get 60. That’s cool. Everything’s fine. Got my 50, got my 60. I’ll probably play the next game. If I don’t, I’ll have the day off and go and play golf, and I’m gonna do what I like,” Pietersen told the broadcasters during the innings break (via India Today).
“It just seems to me like they’re just lacking that bit of something that says, ‘Hey, man, come on. Let’s get that 100, let’s get that 130.’ This team here should be scoring 350 today. That’s what they should be doing. 304, they might still win this game. They’ve got a very good chance of still winning this game, but they should be able to be ruthless and get that 350, 360 because they’re good enough,” he added.
Kevin Pietersen’s former teammate Steve Harmison had highlighted the same issue on TalkSport after England opted out of training prior to the second ODI. The ex-pacer spoke about how the casual attitude of players is costing England, and further added that something is not right with the current team setup.
Kevin Pietersen pleads for an intervention from England coaching staff
England’s mantra under Brendon McCullum has been to prioritize an entertaining brand of cricket. The agenda was driven with the red-ball side, and the white-ball teams are also embracing an ultra-aggressive approach, more so than before.
Kevin Pietersen, however, feels that this current England unit, obsessed with playing an entertaining brand of cricket is complacent, instead of prioritizing results.
“I’m disappointed that now in the last couple of games, no one’s gone on to get a big, big, big score. When you have a look at the great one-day sides and you have a look at the side that played for England a number of years ago, and went on to win a World Cup, batters got hundreds, batters got big runs, and I think that there’s a level of comfort in this England team that everything’s just gonna be okay. And we’re gonna play a brand of cricket that we’re excited to play,” Pietersen implored.
“We’re going to be a team that everybody wants to watch. But I think there comes a point when you’ve actually got to sit the guys down and say, ‘Playing for England, you need responsibility and you need to understand and accept that there are consequences for not winning matches. You need to win games of cricket,'” he concluded.
England are on the cusp of yet another series defeat after their 305-run target ended up being well below par. The Men in Blue came out all guns blazing in the run-chase as the visitors failed to control the onslaught by Team India skipper Rohit Sharma. England have had a horrid tour of India so far, with newly appointed head coach Brendon McCullum faced with several issues to address. They lost the T20I series by 1-4, and could end up with a whitewash in the ODI series if they lose the upcoming series finale.
The third ODI between India and England is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, February 12, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.