Mahela, Pietersen join the Delhi Daredevils squad

Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene and explosive England batsman Kevin Pietersen on Sunday joined their Indian Premier League team Delhi Daredevils after completing their national duties.

Jayawardene and Pietersen, who headed the batting averages for Sri Lanka and England respectively, during in the Test series in Sri Lanka, arrived from Colombo today.

"I am looking forward to a good season with the team," Jayawardene said.

"It will be wonderful working with some wonderful cricketers with so much collective experience. (Team Mentor) TA Sekar had been telling me for a while before the auction that he was keen for me to turn out for Delhi Daredevils. I am hoping to do my best.

"I know the Delhi Daredevils fans would have liked the Colombo Test to end in three or four days so that we could play last night's game against Royal Challengers Bangalore. But KP and I had other ideas," he said with a smile.

Jayawardene and Pietersen both got hundreds in the first innings of the second Test match.

Pietersen said he is also eager to contribute to the Delhi Daredevils' progress.

"I know we have a good unit and am happy that we got off to a good start in Kolkata. I am looking forward to spending some time with young cricketers in Delhi," he said.

Pietersen was also happy to hear that paceman Umesh Yadav will be available for selection for the April 10 game against Chennai Super Kings at the Ferozshah Kotla.

Yadav had gone off the field in the match against Royal Challengers Bangalore because of a bout of cramps.

First Published: Apr 08, 2012 18:52 IST