Former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen had a heart-stopping experience on his way to Mumbai for the much-anticipated IPL 2024 clash between MI and CSK.
According to a social media post shared by Pietersen on Sunday, his flight was forced to take a detour due to the escalating tensions between Iran and Israel.
“Well that’s a first. Our plane last night had to go back,” Pietersen wrote on his X (formerly known as Twitter). “Add another big load of fuel cos we had to reroute to avoid the missiles from Iran.. Madness!“
While Pietersen did not specify the exact route or airline, his revelation highlights the impact of geopolitical tensions on commercial air travel. The incident comes amidst heightened anxieties following Iran’s missile launch towards Israel.
More on IPL 2024
MI and CSK to lock horns in a much-awaited IPL 2024 tie
Despite the pre-match jitters caused by the unexpected flight detour, Kevin Pietersen is likely to be brimming with excitement for the main event – the clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
This match is considered one of the biggest rivalries in the IPL, with both teams winning a combined total of 10 trophies in the history so far. While the leadership mantle has transitioned from the legendary MS Dhoni and Rohit Sharma to Ruturaj Gaikwad and Hardik Pandya, respectively, the rivalry between the two teams remains fierce.
Both teams have gone head-to-head 38 times in their history, with MI enjoying a lead of 21 wins as compared to CSK’s 17. It will be interesting to see who comes out on top in the highly anticipated fixture.