Kevin Pietersen expresses blunt thoughts on England batters: 'Reached my 50-60; I might continue playing...'

Kevin Pietersen slammed the English batters for their lackluster performance in the ongoing India tour, criticizing their inability to capitalize on opportunities. Despite winning the toss in the second ODI, England failed to post a competitive total, falling short with 304 runs on the board. Ben Duckett and Joe Root's fifties were not enough as India comfortably chased down the target with 4 wickets in hand and 33 balls to spare. With a series defeat looming, the pressure is on Jos Buttler and the rest of the team to step up in the final match of the series.

Pietersen didn't hold back while launching a rant on the England batters and suggested that their mindset is not to score big runs and that they are satisfied with half-centuries to retain their places in the XI.

"It seems to me there's just a lack of hunger and a lack of desire to go and get that 130, 140. That's what's missing. Like, it's just too easy. Get 40, get 50, get 60. That's cool. Everything's fine. Got my 50, got my 60. I'll probably play the next game. If I don't, I'll have the day off and go and play golf, and I'm gonna do what I like," Pietersen told the broadcasters during the innings break.

In the first ODI, Jos Buttler (52), Jacob Brethell (51), and Phil Salt (43) were also set but failed to convert them into big scores as England failed to breach the 300-run mark. Meanwhile, for India, Shubman Gill got close to a century in the series opener with an 87-run knock, while Rohit Sharma smashed a blistering century in Cuttak while chasing targets.

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Pietersen suggested that the batters don't have the hunger to get that big score and are a bit ruthless with their approach to taking the team over 350.

"It just seems to me like they're just lacking that bit of something that says, 'Hey, man, come on. Let's get that 100, let's get that 130.' This team here should be scoring 350 today. That's what they should be doing. 304, they might still win this game. They've got a very good chance of still winning this game, but they should be able to be ruthless and get that 350, 360 because they're good enough," he added.

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