Photo: Twitter
New Delhi: Kevin Pietersen marked his return to cricket after 6 months with a dazzling 52 off 35 balls as he helped Surrey win over Essex by 10 runs in NatWest T-20 blast.
The former England batsman smashed five sixes, including four in one Simon Harmer over, in his 35-ball knock as he played his first game for Surrey in more than two years.
"I absolutely loved it," he told BBC Radio. "It's been a date I've looked forward to since I signed the contract and to get the victory for the boys is magnificent.
"It's just nice to be batting. Getting out there and manipulating the field, picking length - that's the sort of stuff that really excites me. The sixes are a by-product of the art of batting and I love batting.” added the 37 year old.
However it was the right handed batsman’s post match antics that brought him into headlines. After the game Pietersen said to the BBC Radio London that he might as well consider playing for his birth country, South Africa in the 2019 World Cup.
“I love batting and I would keep on batting till I can. We are talking about something that is 2 years from now. I have to play a lot of cricket in South Africa for the next two years”, said the former England Skipper.
The 37 year old ended the interview on an intriguing note, “Will I feature in the 2019 World Cup, well who knows.”
Pietersen however picked up a calf strain while batting and didn’t come on the ground to field in the second innings as Surrey successfully defended a total of 151 in 20 overs.
"The calf is a little bit sore but I know my body, I'm 37 - if I'd have started sprinting around in that second innings I could have done a lot of damage.” said Pietersen.
With a lot more cricket to be played before 2019 World Cup, it remains to be seen if Pietersen would make any serious amends towards making his place in a star studded South African lineup.