New Delhi: Kevin Pietersen was one of the star performers when England thrashed India 4-0 at home in 2011. But this year, he says, the men in blue could avenge that humiliation if the Indian batsmen perform to their potential.
“They have got Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Murali Vijay and all of them have the technique to score runs in England. It will be important that they score runs otherwise it will be problem,” Pietersen said here on Sunday.
“The last time the problem was that only Rahul (Dravid) got the runs. But India’s batting is very good and talented.
“It’s going to be a fantastic series. England are rebuilding, while India have got incredible batting talent,” he added.
India will play five Test matches from July 9 to August 19, which will be followed by five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 International.
As far as England are concerned, the 33-year-old Pietersen said the hosts will miss the services of retired off-spinner Graeme Swann.
“England are definitely going to miss Swann. He had the ability to take many wickets in the first innings and could smash through a batting order in the second,” Pietersen, who is leading the Delhi Daredevils in the IPL, said.
In a surprise decision, Swann announced his retirement in the middle of the Ashes series in Australia last winter.
Asked about the 2015 ICC World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, Pietersen said all teams have a good chance.
“The tracks are just fantastic in Australia. The teams will need to make the most of the conditions,” Pietersen said.
