Kevin Pietersen says why IPL 2017 auction were ‘a slap on Test cricket’s face’

Kevin Pietersen, former England captain and star batsman, believes Test cricket has been given a slap in the face by exorbitant amount paid for T20 specialist Tymal Mills by Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction

Kevin Pietersen, former England captain, has slammed the costly bid put in by Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) to acquire the services of compatriot Tymal Mills in the auction of the 2017 Indian Premier League (IPL) season.

Kevin Pietersen played for Rising Pune Supergiants in 2016 Indian Premier League. The former England star batsman has pulled out of IPL this year. (Hindustan Times)

Tymal Mills — hailed as a T20 specialist — was the second-most expensive player of the IPL 2017 auction at Rs 12 crore. He was picked up for 24 times his base price of Rs 50 lakh.

It also makes Tymal Mills the most a team has paid for a bowler in the history of the IPL. Kevin Pietersen is just not amused.

Read | From Ben Stokes to Trent Boult: Top 10 most expensive picks of IPL 2017 auction

Pietersen clearly disliked the amount paid for the pacer and took to Twitter to make his feelings known.

“Another SLAP in Test crickets face yesterday! A T20 specialist becomes one of the current England team’s richest players! [sic],” Pietersen posted on his Twitter profile on Tuesday.

Tymal Mills was considered for inclusion in the England squad for the 2013-14 Ashes. However, a congenital back condition wherein his spinal cord being too close to the vertebrae has forced him to only play shorter formats of the game.

Read | Tymal Mills: Quick gun from England set to fire under Virat Kohli in IPL

Mills has gone on to play for Brisbane Heat in the Big Bash League, Chittagong Vikings in the Bangladesh Premier League and Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League.

“I coach lots of kids & I’m in touch with the youngsters. I got told recently I wasted 500 days by playing 100Tests! [sic],” Kevin Pietersen said in response to a question about his tweet.

The 36-year-old also clarified that budding cricketers would aspire to earn large sums of money like Mills and that would bring down the prestige of playing the game.

“There is no problem [of Mills going for that sum of money]. It’s fantastic! But, it’s all youngsters will strive for! That’s my point!” he tweeted.

Although he was quick to clarify that he rated Mills quite highly.

“It’s not crazy! Mills is a wonderful bowler in T20! He deserves it! Should have been playing for Eng 4yrs ago!” he said in response to a tweet that the sum was too high for Mills who had only won four England caps till date.

Here are Kevin Pietersen’s exchanges with one Twitter user: