Published 15:29 IST, February 2nd 2021
Kevin Pietersen reacts to Indian government's gesture of sending vaccines to South Africa
Former England captain Kevin Pietersen was lauded on Twitter for his response to a tweet which confirmed that Indian vaccines had arrived in his home country.
Amidst the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, India has extended their hand of support to several nations during such dire circumstances. South Africa is one such country that India has decided to help with the COVID-19 vaccine. This move comes as a major relief for South Africa, as it currently is dealing with the second wave of the COVID-19 virus. The country's first doses of vaccines finally arrived on Monday from India through an aircraft.
India COVID-19 vaccine: Kevin Pietersen appreciates the Indian government
The country received a total of 10,00,000 shots of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Monday. The healthcare workers of the nation will be the first ones to be vaccinated against the virus. The AstraZeneca vaccine has been developed and produced by the Serum Institute of India (SII). Moreover, India will send an additional 5,00,000 shots of the vaccine later this month.
Former England captain, Kevin Pietersen, who was born in South Africa, seemed to be delighted with this latest development. The 40-year-old took to his Twitter account, to thank the Indian government for their generous gesture. The ex-cricketer's appreciation post for India received immense love from fans as well on the micro-blogging site.
Indian fans commend Kevin Pietersen for acknowledging India's help
India Budget 2021: Healthcare budget hiked by 138%
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has allocated a staggering ₹35,000 crore just for the India COVID-19 vaccine. The minister also affirmed that she is willing to further increase the sum in the future if needed. The country's healthcare budget also witnessed a considerable hike and is currently at ₹2,23,846 crore.
India vs England: Two cricketing giants to battle for supremacy
The upcoming series between the two nations will be the first home series in India after their COVID-19 enforced sabbatical. With The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) also planning to organise the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2021) in the country, the success of the England tour becomes even more significant.
According to the India vs England schedule, the two nations will first square off in four Test matches. The red-ball fixtures will be followed by 5 T20Is and 3 ODIs. The opening Test of the home series is slated to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai on February 5.
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Image source: Kevin Pietersen Instagram
Updated 15:30 IST, February 2nd 2021