Former England cricketer shares heartwarming moment as his son dons Kohli’s autographed jersey
New Delhi, February 14: Former England batting legend Kevin Pietersen shared a touching moment on social media after his son, Dylan Pietersen, received an autographed Indian jersey from Virat Kohli. The jersey, personally signed by the Indian batting maestro, came with a special message: “To Dylan, with best wishes.”
Pietersen Thanks Kohli for the Thoughtful Gesture
Taking to Instagram, Pietersen posted a picture of Dylan proudly wearing the gifted jersey, expressing his gratitude to Kohli.
“Got home and gave @dylanpietersenphotography a gift from @virat.kohli and it goes straight on! Fits like a glove. Thanks, buddy!” Pietersen wrote in the caption.
The post instantly gained attention from cricket fans, highlighting the strong bond between Pietersen and Kohli—one that has grown over the years, both on and off the field.
A Friendship Forged in the IPL
Kohli and Pietersen have shared a close relationship since their days playing together for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Pietersen represented RCB from 2009 to 2010, scoring 329 runs in 13 matches at an average of 32.90 and a strike rate of 135.95. His best IPL knock for RCB was an unbeaten 66.
Even after retiring, Pietersen has remained one of Kohli’s biggest supporters, frequently backing him during his highs and lows in international cricket. Whether Kohli was breaking records or struggling with form, Pietersen has often spoken in favor of the Indian cricket icon.
Virat Kohli’s Recent Form & Champions Trophy Challenge
Kohli was recently in action during India’s ODI series against England, which concluded on Wednesday. After missing the first ODI due to a knee injury, he returned to score 5 and 52 in the remaining two matches.
The 36-year-old will now be focusing on the ICC Champions Trophy, starting on February 19, where he aims to regain his lost touch with the bat. His form in 2024 was underwhelming, with only 655 international runs in 23 matches, averaging 21.83 with just one century and two fifties.
With the Champions Trophy around the corner, Kohli remains a key player in India’s squad, which is set to compete in Dubai under a hybrid model of hosting between Pakistan and UAE.
India’s Squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025:
- Rohit Sharma (Captain)
- Shubman Gill (Vice-captain)
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (WK)
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Hardik Pandya
- Axar Patel
- Washington Sundar
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Harshit Rana
- Mohammed Shami
- Arshdeep Singh
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Varun Chakaravarthy
Non-traveling substitutes:
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Mohammed Siraj
- Shivam Dube
The three players will join the squad in Dubai if required.
Conclusion
Pietersen’s social media post not only reflected a special bond between two cricketing legends but also emphasized Kohli’s immense fan following beyond India. As Kohli gears up for the Champions Trophy, cricket fans will be eager to see if he can rediscover his form and help India secure another ICC title.