Pietersen replaces Dravid as Bangalore skipper by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Player:

KP Pietersen, RS Dravid

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DateLine: 22nd March 2009

 

Former England skipper Kevin Pietersen was on Saturday named the captain of Bangalore Royal Challengers replacing Rahul Dravid, whose performance came under severe attack during the inaugural edition of the IPL. The announcement was made by owner of the team Vijay Mallya who said the decision was taken in consultation with Dravid who is right now away playing the Test series against New Zealand.

 

Dravid, who was sarcastically referred to as Test player in the slam-bang version of the game last year, will not play for the entire tournament as his wife is expecting their child. The team will be led by Pietersen for the first phase of the second edition of IPL until he leaves at the end of April following which South African Jacques Kallis will assume captaincy.

 

Mallya told reporters that this decision was taken after extensive consultations with Rahul Dravid and it was not an easy one. "We have a wealth of talent and expertise in our team and have six international captains to choose from," he added. "The decision on captaincy was taken by keeping into account three considerations. One, player's availability during each phase of the tournament; two, flexibility in selection of playing squad during the phases; and three, the fact that Dravid will not be available due to personal reasons for the entire tournament," Mallya said.