Jason Roy was disappointed to not be part of the SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) playing XI for the first two games of the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) in the United Arab Emirates but still looked at the situation as a great way to prepare for the T20 World Cup, said former England captain Kevin Pietersen.

Roy was left on the bench by SRH in India, even when David Warner lost his captaincy and was dropped for the final match that was held in the country before the season was postponed. He finally made his debut for SRH for their match against Rajasthan Royals on September 27 and smashed 60 off 42 balls to lead them to just their second win of the season.

“For Jason Roy to replace him and make a half-century in his first match, though, was very pleasing. We see things happening out here that you guys don’t. Roy is committed to training, committed to the warm-up for every match and has thrown himself into IPL life,” Pietersen wrote in his blog for Betway Insider.

“I spoke to him after the first two games and he was bitterly disappointed not to be playing, but he just said: ‘Listen, I’m here, and this is great preparation for the T20 World Cup’. He’d been practicing his backside off and now he’s got his chance, which is great news for Sunrisers and for England,” Pietersen added.