KEVIN PIETERSEN WILL represent England for the first time since July in the opening match of their tour of India.
Pietersen, who has not played for England since the second Test against South Africa at Headingley, will return against India A in a three-day game in Mumbai starting Tuesday.
The 32-year-old batsman was dropped because of his involvement in the text scandal that rocked the England dressing room.
He was left out of the World Twenty20 squad but signed a new central contract earlier this month and reached an agreement concerning his reintegration into the side.
“We’re looking forward to getting him back in the team. What’s gone has gone,” England captain Alastair Cook said during a training camp in Dubai.
“Things have been sorted and it’s great to have a world-class player back in the ranks.
“Kev’s been around a long time, and apart from Nick Compton and Joe Root, everyone’s played a lot of cricket with him.
“I’m sure reading what he’s said, he can’t wait to get out here and as a captain that’s a great place for me to be.”
England spent three days in the United Arab Emirates in a bid to prepare for the conditions in India.
“They have different types of surfaces here and they can try and prepare the wickets to how you want them,” Cook said.
“We’ve used as many different types of wicket as possible and all the lads have got a lot out of it.”
Pietersen, who missed the camp due to his commitments in the Champions League Twenty20 in South Africa, landed in India shortly before the rest of the England squad on Monday.
