'A hero to a lot of players' - Harry Brook hails Kevin Pietersen as hero after stunning century against Sri Lanka

England defeated Sri Lanka by 119 runs in the first T20I played in Southampton on September 15, 2026. England posted 254 for four in their innings, with Harry Brook delivering a match-defining performance that set the tone for the victory.

Brook scored 114 not out from 49 balls, striking 10 fours and six sixes in an innings that showcased aggressive batting. His century came from just 42 balls, making it England's joint second-fastest T20I century. The knock was particularly significant as it marked Brook's first international century across all formats in 18 innings since England's World Cup victory against Pakistan in February 2026.

Brook shared a 128-run second-wicket partnership with Jos Buttler that provided the foundation for England's strong total. Speaking after the match, Brook reflected on the impact of Kevin Pietersen, who has joined England's white-ball setup as a specialist mentor ahead of the ODI World Cup in South Africa next year.

"Obviously we haven’t had too much time together so far but he’s a great figure to have in the changing room -- the type of player he was, he looked at batting slightly differently, in a similar way to me as well," Brook was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

"He always wants to try and look to put the bowlers under pressure, and I’m looking forward to working with him a lot more," Brook added.

Pietersen's influence on Brook and the squad

The 26-year-old batter spoke about Pietersen's playing career and the respect he commands among the current squad.

"I was actually watching his highlights earlier, funnily enough," Brook explained. "He was a phenomenal player. The way he accessed different areas of the ground made it really tricky to captain and bowl to, and I'm looking forward to having a lot of conversations about that," England skipper claimed.

Harry Brook believes Kevin Pietersen's presence around the England setup could have a significant impact on his career. Pietersen recently joined the squad as a specialist mentor, and Brook admitted that the former England captain remains a hero to many players in the dressing room. He also highlighted Pietersen's influence across both red-ball and white-ball cricket.

"That’s not just for white-ball cricket, that’s for Test cricket as well. Hopefully he can have a big impact on my career. He’s a hero to a lot of players in that changing room. We all grew up watching him and admiring his work and it’s just awesome to have a man of his calibre in the changing room," he concluded.