Pietersen to face Flintoff in IPL

Both Pietersen and Flintoff have broken the previous IPL transfer record
Andrew Flintoff and Kevin Pietersen will meet in the Indian Premier League on Monday when the Chennai Super Kings face the Bangalore Royal Challengers.

Both enjoyed contrasting fortunes when the IPL began on Saturday with Flintoff’s Chennai side going down to a 19-run defeat to the Mumbai Indians.

Pietersen however, guided Bangalore Royal Challengers to an emphatic victory over Rajasthan Royals.

The English pair are the most expensive players in the league at £1.1m each.

Flintoff struggled with the ball taking 1-44 as his side conceded 165.

He was then promoted up the batting order and shared a half-century stand with Matthew Hayden, before attempting a big shot that was skied back to the bowler, Harbhajan Singh, for 24 in 23 deliveries.

Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni played down injury fears over Flintoff after the all-rounder was seen with an ice pack on his foot following his IPL debut in Cape Town.

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“I don’t think he’s injured,” he said.

“As far as the playing XI is concerned (for the next match), we’ll have a look and re-assess things then.”

Batsman Pietersen, who captains Bangalore, is relishing the clash after the fine start to the tournament from his side.

He said: “It is a terrific start to the tournament.

“The boys played fantastic cricket (on Saturday), we’ve been talking a lot about being patient, especially in the coastal areas with the ball not travelling as far in the Highveld region.

“Rahul Dravid was outstanding this evening, Jesse Ryder was fantastic in the field and the boys were really happy.

“We saw, myself and Rahul, that it was tough batting out there.

“We were good, but we’ve still got some areas to improve on as well.”

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