Kevin Pietersen was celebrating a lucrative windfall on Sunday night when he switched teams in the Indian Premier League to join Delhi Daredevils for a reported $2million.
Pietersen, who banked $1.5million when he first signed up for the Twenty20 cashfest by joining Bangalore in 2009, saw his IPL earnings plummet last year when he joined the Deccan Chargers for $650,000.
In the event he was unable to play a game in India last year because of a double hernia operation but has now increased his workload and also his bank balance during one of England’s busiest years by joining Dehli after becoming England’s most expensive IPL player.
Pietersen would only earn all the money if he played in the full six-week competition but the closing stages clash with the start of England’s Test summer in May so he will be paid on a pro-rata basis for however long England agree to release him for.
Andy Flower, the England team director, would rather his players take advantage of any opportunity to rest from the crowded international calendar but he is also realistic about the vast sums on offer for cricketers in the IPL and will not stand in Pietersen’s way.
It remains to be seen how many other England players put their names forward for this year’s IPL auction on February 4 but Stuart Broad is already committed to honoring the second year of his contract with King’s XI Punjab. Broad was also unable to play last year in India because of injury.
Pietersen announced on Twitter: 'Breaking News: I've moved from Deccan Chargers to The Delhi Daredevils.. V happy with the transfer!! Can't wait to watch Viru (Virender Sehwag) from 22yds!!'
He added: 'We got a great chance this yr in the £IPL .. Bring it on!!!'
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