IPL 2021: Kevin Pietersen Believes Moeen Ali Can't Be A Regular Starter For England In T20Is
Published - 24 Apr 2021, 03:38 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:44 AM
Despite the impactful performances from England all-rounder Moeen Ali in IPL 2021 so far, former England batsman, Kevin Pietersen, doesn’t see him being a regular starter for England in the T20Is. Moeen Ali has been a revelation ever since he has come into the Chennai Super Kings and he has contributed with both bat and ball. He has batting higher up the order at three which has brought a lot of success for him.
He was released by the RCB franchise ahead of the 2021 Auction and CSK managed to buy him for a hefty amount of 7 crores. He has backed it up with 133 runs in four games at a strike rate of 152.87. He has also taken four wickets in the four games and proved to be the game-changer against the Rajasthan Royals with a brilliant spell of three wickets for seven runs.
Kevin Pieterson Feels Moeen Could Be A Backup Option
Kevin Pietersen feels that Moeen Ali will not be able to start regularly for England in the T20Is but he can be used as a backup option if some player is injured or rested. He compared the current England team to the Australian side 20 years ago where high-class players like Mike Hussey and Damien Martyn had to wait longer to get into the team.
“I don’t think he can be a regular starter, but he’s definitely somebody who can step in where there is illness, injury or somebody needs a rest. He just happens to be playing in a fantastic era of English batsmen. Look at the great Australian side around 20 years ago when guys like Mike Hussey and Damien Martyn were struggling to get in,” Pietersen wrote in a column for Betway.
Pietersen Explains Moeen Ali’s Three Dimensional Role
Moeen Ali is expected to play a three-dimensional player role in the team with contributions in all three departments. He is a good player of spin and can be very destructive at the top. Pietersen felt that Moeen Ali is at the top of his game now.
“But he’s a wonderful player. He’s three-dimensional, which I really like, and he’s proving how good a player he is at the moment,” Pietersen added.
Moeen Ali’s next challenge will be up against his former side RCB tomorrow in an afternoon game.
