Published: Feb 06, 2016, 08:55 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 06, 2016, 08:55 PM (IST)
Mumbai: Australia all-rounder James Faulkner on Saturday joked with exiled England batsman Kevin Pietersen after the latter was bought by Indian Premier League (IPL) side Rising Pune Supergiants at the players’ auctions in Bengaluru. Faulkner who is in the other new IPL franchise, Gujarat Lions, was picked up for Rs.5.5 crore. Faulkner will be playing under Suresh Raina’s captaincy, while Pietersen, who was bagged for Rs 3.5 crore, will be representing India limited-overs skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s new team Pune. Faulkner tweeted immediately after Pietersen was bought by Pune, asking Pietersen, if the former could buy him dinner after been bought for a lump some amount. IPL 2016 Auction: Kevin Pietersen sold for Rs. 3.5 crores to Rising Pune Supergiants
“Will you buy me dinner now @KP24 ??, no excuse,” Faulkner tweeted on Saturday. Faulkner and Pietersen share a good relationship as the duo play for the same side Melbourne Stars in the Australia’s domestic Twenty20 tournament Big Bash League. Talking of Faulkner, he was on Wednesday ruled out of Australia‘s cricket tour of New Zealand after injuring his right hamstring. He was injured during Australia’s 159-run loss to New Zealand at Eden Park in the first One-Day here on Wednesday. Australia will play three One-Days and two Tests in New Zealand. The second match is in Wellington on February 6. Faulkner was replaced in the squad by young all-rounder Marcus Stoinis. Cricket Australia’s Sports Science and Sport Medicine manager Alex Kountouris said in a release: “James reported increased stiffness in his right hamstring during the first innings tonight and found it difficult running during our batting innings.
