Kevin Pietersen Slams England Players for Poor Preparation in India

 

Former England captain Kevin Pietersen didn’t hold back in criticizing England’s approach after their 0-3 defeat in the ODI series against India. The 44-year-old, who was in India as a commentator, was particularly frustrated with England’s lack of preparation, echoing Ravi Shastri’s claim that the team had only one practice session throughout the series.

 

After a disappointing 1-4 loss in the T20I series, England had a chance to bounce back in the ODIs and build momentum ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. However, they failed to put up a fight, even against an Indian team missing its star pacer, Jasprit Bumrah. What frustrated Pietersen the most was that instead of focusing on training, the players were seen enjoying rounds of golf.

 

Expressing his disappointment on Star Sports, Pietersen said, “I understand that players want to have fun. Play golf, enjoy yourself—these are the best moments of your life. But at the end of the day, you’re paid to score runs and win matches, not to play golf. This isn’t a golf tour, it’s a cricket tour.”

 

The former skipper was particularly upset by what he saw as England’s lack of respect for Indian conditions. “As an Englishman, it hurts to say this, but the way England approached this tour felt like a complete disregard for India and the challenges of playing here. If you’re losing and not even practicing to improve, what’s the point? No athlete can get better without training.”