Top 5 Kevin Pietersen knocks in international cricket

#1 186 vs India (2012) - Test

Pietersen turned the series on its head as he scored 186 to help England take a vital first-innings lead

England’s tour to India in 2012 was a historic one. They won a series in India after 28 years and that too after being 1-0 down.

After getting a thrashing at India's hands in Ahmedabad, where the spinners were all over England, the visitors kept the hosts down to just 327. England started well but two quick wickets pushed them on the backfoot. They were 68/2 and with Pragyan Ojha picking up both wickets, it seemed like the English team would crumble against spin once again.

But it was not to be. Pietersen struck a magnificent counter-attacking 186 to put India in a spot of bother. He played 233 deliveries and hit 20 fours and 4 sixes. He found an able partner in Alastair Cook, who scored 122.

Pietersen, along with Cook, stretched England’s first innings total to 413. India couldn’t cope up with the spin and bounce Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann generated as they were bowled out for 142 and gave England a target of 57, which they completed without any problems.

It was Pietersen’s innings that turned the game in England’s favour and this knock was possibly a series-defining knock.