When a team loses a player with the reputation and sheer weight of runs as Pietersen, replacing him would normally pose a daunting prospect.
But ask Rising Pune Supergiants skipper Mahendera Singh Dhoni away from the glare of the wider cricketing world and he may well term it a blessing in disguise.
Sure, Pietersen is a big match player, but he has not been anywhere near his best in this tournament, scoring just 73 runs in four matches and registering a best of 37.
The Pune outfit is currently languishing second last in the table and must now look to other options in pursuit of an upturn in form.
So who could fill in the big shoes of Pietersen?
1 ALBIE MORKEL
Albie Morkel was a vital cog in the now-defunct Chennai Super Kings line-up and his medium quicks along with his big-hitting prowess should prove a nice fit in this Pune team. His IPL experience should give him the edge over some of the others on this list, having played 89 matches so far and scoring 958 runs at an average of 24.56. With the ball he has picked up 83 wickets with a best of 4-32 at an economy of 8.12.
2. MITCHELL MARSH
The big-hitting all-rounder would lend an ideal balance to the side. He, like Morkel, has had the experience of playing in the IPL. From the 19 matches he has played in the league he has scored 225 runs, with a best of 38. Marsh has impressed with the ball, picking up 18 wickets and best figures of 4-25.
3. ADAM ZAMPA
Leg-spinner Zampa has been making waves in the international cricket with his impressive World T20 performances coming on the back of a great run in last year’s Big Bash League. Leg-spinners are a potent weapon in Twenty20 cricket and with the spinning tracks in India, he could be a handy weapon in Dhoni’s arsenal. However, with Murgugan Ashwin doing a decent job with the ball and the side looking for greater batting options this may prove tricky.
4. PETER HANDSCOMB
If Dhoni wishes to go with a proper batman, he has Peter Handscomb to replace Pietersen. The wicket-keeper batsman was snapped up by Pune for $63,000 and is a more than handy number three. The Melbourne Stars player had a disappointing Big Bash tournament, scoring 141 runs from 10 matches but will look to make the most of the opportunity should he get one.
5. SCOTT BOLAND
Boland is another player to watch out for should Dhoni favour bringing in another bowler. A bowler, who is known for his death bowling, Boland picked 19 wickets from nine matches in the Sheffield Shield in the 2013-14 season, which made him a household name. Following that, he picked up 25 wickets in the next season, to prove that he is more than just a flash in the pan. Dhoni could go the Aussie, to ensure that his team doesn’t leak too many runs in the death overs.