Picture Credit: X/IPL
In a massive blow to the Rajasthan Royals (RR) camp, their star opener Jos Buttler has returned to England, midway through the IPL 2024. The wicketkeeper-batter, who smashed two centuries to help Rajasthan Royals to a comfortable win in the first half of the IPL 2024 season, left for England after RR’s five-wicket loss against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Sunday, May 12.
With two more matches left for RR and their qualification still not confirmed, it will be a tough task for the Sanju Samson-led side to cope up with their performance, seeing the playoffs ahead. Speaking of the England white-ball skipper, Buttler has amassed 359 runs from 11 innings at a strike rate of 140.78 and an average of 39.989. His highest score of unbeaten 107 came against Kolkata Knight Riders where the RR snapped a win in a last-ball thriller.
It is to be noted that England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) during their provisional squad announcement for the T20 World Cup 2024 confirmed that the players featuring in the IPL 2024 will not be available for the playoffs.
Moreover, the members of the England’s World Cup squad, who are currently featuring in the IPL 2024, including Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Phil Salt and Reece Topley, will begin to return home in the coming few days before England’s first T20I, scheduled to be played at Headingley on May 22.
Louise Buttler confirms Jos Buttler’s return to England; deletes later
Jos Buttler’s wife Louise Buttler early on Monday, confirmed Jos Buttler’s return to England. Taking to Instagram, Louise captioned a post, “8 weeks as Team Girls ❤️ 0 more sleeps until Daddy’s home ❤️”.
However moments after sharing the post, she deleted the post, which was even liked by Liam Livingstone, PBKS all-rounder who also left for England after Punjab Kings got knocked out of the IPL 2024.
