London, Oct.4 (ANI): Key middle-order batsman Kevin Pietersen is being urged to recapture his best form in 50-over cricket for England in India to be a force to be reckoned with during the 2015 World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
Skipper Alastair Cook suggested on Monday that KP will be a force at the next World Cup in 2015 and described his return for a trip to India as "fantastic".
But according to The Telegraph, away from the microphones there were mumblings recently that there was more to Pietersen being "rested" for last month's one-day series win over India and that the selectors were close to leaving him out for this trip too.
The absence of Eoin Morgan with a shoulder injury meant that Pietersen had to be selected to provide the propulsion needed in the mid-innings period, which will become even more crucial on this tour thanks to the tinkering of Powerplay rules.
The optional Powerplays will now have to be taken between the 20th and 40th overs, meaning fielding restrictions will be in force and batsmen expected to clear the ropes at a time when spinners are normally in operation.
Pietersen has the power and array of strokes to hit the big shots, but his last one-day hundred was in India in 2008 when he was captain and England could only dream of being the world's best at any form of the game.
A lean trot of one-day hundreds is not rare for English batsmen in one-day cricket but his return of just two half-centuries in 32 innings since that century in Cuttack, at an average of 22.86, is mysterious and includes a period when he was dropped by England in the summer of 2010 for the one-day series against Pakistan.
England believe Pietersen can still contribute and as a fit, dedicated professional there is no reason why he could not be playing at the age of 34 when the next World Cup. (ANI)
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