IPL 8: Kevin Pietersen joins Sunrisers Hyderabad squad

Sunrisers Hyderabad today announced the arrival of former England skipper Kevin Pietersen who will join the team here on Friday.

The swashbuckling batsman was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad in this year's auction but was allowed to return home to play county cricket at his request, a statement from the franchise said.

"He will return to India adding additional firepower to the Orange Army's top order as it bids to seal a top-four berth, he will be available for selection for Sunrisers Hyderabad's last home game against Mumbai Indians on Sunday, 17th of May," it said.

Sunrisers Hyderabad currently lie third in the overall tables with 14 points thanks to a solid run of form that has seen the squad win four of their last five matches, the team said.

Pietersen is currently in fine form, having scored a triple-century for county side Surrey a day ago.

"His return will strengthen Sunrisers Hyderabad's already formidable batting line-up led by Captain David Warner, currently the leading run-scorer in the IPL," it said.

"It is great news that KP will be joining us earlier than planned. To add a world-class batsman to our squad at the business end of the tournament is a huge bonus, we look forward to welcoming him to our squad," said Tom Moody, Head Coach, Sunrisers Hyderabad.

Pietersen, or KP as he is known, made his IPL debut in 2009 and has played 32 games so far, scoring 928 runs at a strike rate of 136.07.