Dhoni was stunned by Pietersen’s sudden decision to retire from limited overs cricket

India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has announced his shock over England batsman Kevin Pietersen’s decision to retire from ODI and Twenty20 Internationals.

Dhoni however, respected Pietersen’s decision and hailed him as one of the greatest players of the modern era.

“This has come as news to me,” Dhoni said when he was asked about Pietersen’s retirement.

The Indian captain, who was in Gurgaon to launch a new sports gym, offered nothing but praise for the flamboyant England batsman, and said: ““KP is a great player. Not just England but the cricket fraternity will miss his presence in the upcoming ICC World T20 in Sri Lanka, all these years we have watched him playing unconventional shots with ease. As we enjoyed see him bat, though not much as opposition, he enjoyed his batting. He played a good part in the Indian Premier League as well and I wish him good luck in whatever he does.”

Dhoni, also took the opportunity to mention that an India-Pakistan series would be a great idea, only if the calender and scheduling allowed it to take place.

“It’s of course something that we all want. However, the boards will have to decide where actually it fits in the schedule,” he said.

Dhoni, also noted that he was extremely pleased to have a break from the stresses of international cricket, and stated that fitness was proving to be very important in today’s game.

“We have a break that is close to 45 days. I will spend this time with my family and if time permits then a vacation won’t be a bad idea. I really want to spend some time with my family and friends,” he said.

“Injuries are part and parcel of any sport and, touch wood, I have not had any serious problem so far. I will try my best to keep myself fit,” he added.