Former England captain Kevin Pietersen and presenter Harsha Bhogle clashed over switch-hit rules in the ongoing India vs. England Test match. The disagreement unfolded during their commentary on Day 3 in Hyderabad, on January 27. Bhogle raised concerns about the shot’s fairness to bowlers and advocated for a potential ban.
Pietersen, known for pioneering the innovative shot, took a contrasting stance. He went as far as leaving the commentary box, declining to engage in a debate with Bhogle on the switch-hit matter.
The cricketer-turned-commentator responded to a fan’s tweet on the microblogging platform X (formerly Twitter), dismissing Bhogle’s views on the switch-hit as “rubbish.”
Kevin said, “I never thought I’d hear you squash entertainment in sport. I’m so happy it’s 3.20 pm local time and I’m going back downstairs.”
On the pitch, following a first-innings total of 246, England showed improvement on the third day. Ollie Pope’s unbeaten 148 propelled them to 316/6 at stumps, securing a significant 126-run lead and putting them back in the game.
In response to Kevin Pietersen’s social media post, Harsha Bhogle reiterated his concerns about the legality of the switch hit. He argued that if a batter can change stance mid-delivery, then bowlers should be allowed to bowl with both hands.
Bhogle expressed his viewpoint, stating, “Absolute nonsense! If you want to switch hit allow a bowler to bowl with both hands. Because something is difficult, it doesn’t make it acceptable. The bowler has to inform the umpire if he wants to bowl left-handed, the batsman must have the same condition. May the debate continue.”
England is set to continue their batting on Day 4, aiming to extend their lead and pose a challenging target for India on the spin-friendly surface. Ollie Pope, supported by Rehan Ahmed, unbeaten on 16 at stumps, will play a key role in this effort.
