England legend Kevin Pietersen has compared the Indian Premier League to the Champions League ahead of the latest edition of the tournament.
The IPL is one of the richest sports leagues in the world, with the tournament commanding a broadcast value of around £11.3m per match. That makes it the second-richest league in the world behind the NFL.
Many of cricket's biggest stars are able to earn huge amounts of money for just over eight weeks work as a result, with England all-rounder Sam Curran making history in December when he became the most expensive player ever after being bought for a whopping £1.85m.
Fellow England stars Ben Stokes and Harry Brook also went for big money, with Chennai Super Kings buying Stokes for £1.6m and Brook earning a £1.3m deal with Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite the riches on offer, Pietersen has insisted the IPL is "not just a free ride to go and earn a quick buck".
"All the best players know, they block out their two months of the year, that's when they're going to go and do their service," he told Betway. "There's a lot of pressure.
"I remember speaking to De Villiers and Kohli about this three or four years ago. They say it's like the Champions League.
"These guys are turning up knowing this is not just a free ride to go and earn a quick buck. They really have to perform."
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Pietersen also hit out those who have criticised former India captain Virat Kohli while he was going through a lean run of form, having struck his first Test century since November 2019 earlier this month. "Virat, I've known for a very long time," Pietersen added.
"The way that he plays the game. So passionate, so abrasive, so emotional. I think Covid hurt him. I said it to him. 'Just chill, dude, it's Covid, you're an entertainer. You cannot play with three people and their dog watching you play cricket'.
"To see him get that 75th hundred. People were foolish not to back him and not to support him."