New Delhi: Former England captain Kevin Pietersen has made a shocking revelation about the sudden end of his international career, claiming that his decision to prioritize the Indian Premier League resulted in a clash with the establishment that eventually cost him a place in the national team.Speaking candidly with Ranveer Al-Habadiya, Pietersen reflected on the sacrifices made in the late 2000s when the England and Wales Cricket Board was reluctant to allow centrally contracted players to participate in games. IPL. He said his stance sparked a long-running controversy that shaped the final leg of his trip to England.‘I made big sacrifices, my career is over’Being responsible for the English cricketers playing in the IPL today, Pietersen did not hold back when mentioning the episode. “I made great sacrifices. I lost my career. That’s why everyone in the establishment turned against me,” he said.The explosive batsman believes his international career ended prematurely. “When my England career ended, I was 33, 104 Tests. I should have played 150-160 Tests and scored 12,000-13,000 runs. That’s what I should have got,” he added, on the scale he feels has fallen short.Pietersen ended his Test career with 8181 runs at an average of 47.28, including 23 centuries and 35 fifties. Pietersen’s decision to play in the IPL at a time when England’s commitments clashed, sparking a power struggle with the board, became a highly publicized flashpoint in English cricket.Opening doors for future generationsDespite the personal cost, Pietersen believes his stance paved the way for modern English players to compete freely in franchise leagues. “I interviewed Jos Buttler a few days ago, and he also said ‘thank you’. The sacrifices I made, these people can now reap the rewards.”He also indicated the intensity of the conflict at that 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 and peaceful life,” Patterson said.After making his IPL debut with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009, Pietersen has enjoyed success in T20 leagues around the world since his move out of England.
