India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar on Monday congratulated former England batsman Kevin Pietersen after he retired from all forms of cricket. Calling him a "delight to watch," Sachin said that the journey of his second innings has just begun.
"Congratulations on a great career, @KP24. You've been a delight to watch! Your second innings journey has just begun. Wishing you all the very best," Sachin said on Twitter.
Earlier, former England captain Michael Vaughan termed Pietersen the best batsman he had the pleasure to play with. "Well done @KP24 on an fantastic career ... Not everyone’s Cup of Tea but you will do for me ... Best Batsman I had the pleasure to play with ... 1st England batsman that put fear into the Aussies .. #WellDone," he tweeted.
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan joined in, saying: "Congratulations @KP24 for your wonderful career and thanks for the great entertainment everywhere. It would be an honoured and proud moment to bowl to you but couldn’t happen. Have a bright and successful future ahead. #Legend @KP24."
The 37-year-old took to Instagram to announce his retirement on Saturday. "Someone just tweeted me to tell me that I scored 30000+ runs including 152 fifty’s & 68 hundreds in my pro career. Four Ashes wins. Home & away! T20 WC win. Beaten India in India. Home & away 100’s in all major Test nations apart from Bangladesh," Pietersen said.
"All dedicated to my family who have just been the most unreal supporters through thick & thin! I’m super proud of everything! Thank you for all the quite lovely msgs! I loved entertaining you all! Ciao, cricket! I love this game," he added.
The South Africa-born Pietersen has been away from the international stage since his England exile started in 2014 following the team's Ashes whitewash Down Under. A prolific scorer in all forms of the game, Pietersen has 8,181 runs in 104 Tests, 4,440 runs in 136 ODIs and 1,176 runs in 37 T20Is.
Pietersen embarked on a nomadic T20 career after his time with England ended, taking in all corners of the globe, with the last 12 months an extended farewell tour.
(With AP inputs)
