Guru for me and genius in dealing with spinners: Kevin Pietersen on Rahul Dravid

Kevin Pietersen (L) and Rahul Dravid

England cricketer Kevin Pietersen has heaped praises on Rahul Dravid crediting the former Indian batting great for improving his technique against spin bowling.

In his recently released book, KP: The Autobiography, Pietersen writes, “Rahul was a great and heroic Indian batsman in his day. He is also a genius at dealing with spin bowlers. Our conversations and emails were a private masterclass from a genuine guru.

"Rahul improved my cricket and helped me develop the way I think about the game. His generosity will stay with me always."

He further adds, “My playing of spin has gone up a number of levels since I’ve spent time in the IPL, and in particular, since I’ve spoken to Rahul Dravid…In England, batsmen get taught to play with the spin against spin bowlers. In India, the best players of spin get taught to play against it.”

Pietersen also shares an email from Dravid that reads, "KP, you are a really good player, you need to watch the ball and trust yourself... Don't let anyone tell you that you can't play spin, I have seen you and you can!"

IPL is the future

Pietersen’s love for the Indian Premier League (IPL) is well-documented and even one of the reasons why his relationship with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) went beyond irreparable levels. The 34-year-old, who captains Delhi Daredevils in the league, doesn’t try to hide it in his book, as well. In fact, both Dravid and Pietersen played together for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), before the franchise was revamped.

On the league’s impact on cricketers, Pietersen writes, “The IPL is the future… I could talk about money and the IPL all day to you, but for the friendships alone I would play for free.

“I’ve built all my relationships with foreign cricketers while in the IPL. That doesn’t help in the England dressing room… there are not many of those friendships.”

Adding how the IPL audience helps his style of play, he says, “There is a culture in India that appreciates if you double down and go for the big shot. It’s a game of cricket, not economics. Not life or death. Take a risk. IPL crowds don’t want to see you batting out singles as you pick and choose which balls to hit. Life is too short.”