- KEVIN PIETERSEN (2010)
He may now have become an isolated figure in the realms of English cricket but England owes its only World Championship title to this individual. Who else could have fetched the Three Lions’ their maiden World T20 trophy? The Caribbean islands of Guyana and Barbados were mesmerised by his astonishing display of stroke play. He made subtle contributions all the way through with notable knocks coming against South Africa (53 off 33 balls), and Pakistan (73* off 52 balls) in the Super Eight Stage. In the semi-final against Sri Lanka in St. Lucia, he scored a blistering 42* (off just 26 balls), and made the below par target of 129 look like a mundane walk in the park. His red hot form remained intact in the final also as he plundered 47 valiant runs against a fuming Aussie line-up, yet again making a mockery of the humble target of 148 set by his Aussie counterparts. KP splendid run in the 2010 ICC World T20 produced 248 runs at an average of 62 and a strike rate of 137.8 owing to which he ended up being the second highest run getter in that edition.
With Pietersen not being around in the England changing room for the 2016 edition of the World T20, the enthusiasts of the game will be deprived of the presence of an unpretentious match winner who delivers the goods in the most sanguine manner whenever he is pushed up against the wall. As half of England’s Group 1 fixtures will take place in Mumbai; King Pieter’s favourite hunting ground in India, the likes of Joe Root and Alex Hales will have to play out of their skins to fill the massive void left by him.
