England’s destructive wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler says he has learned from the pressures of the Indian Premier League.
Rajasthan Royals and Lancashire star believes overseas players have to carry an extra burden of expectation in the world’s leading domestic T20 tournament. The 29-year-old also says having just four foreign players allowed in the line-up also ramps up the pressure too. Learning to deal with that and the off-field demands has been important for Buttler.
“It was one of the pressures you have to learn, especially in India, as an overseas player, you are one of the four in the team and you know the other four who are not playing are also world-class players. So you are under pressure to perform,” said Buttler in an interview to Lancashire Cricket.
Learning to deal with that and the off-field demands has been important for Buttler.
He added: “So that’s been a great learning curve. One of the things I came out with from the first IPL is to just learn to deal with the chaos. There is so much going on off the field, with adverts and stuff that you never done before, meet and greet and different things for different sponsors and then thinking about the game all the time and finding ways to switch off.”
IPL still looking at other options
Buttler was again set to link up with the Royals in IPL 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
The league has now been suspended indefinitely until it is safe to be played. There is the possibility the IPL could go ahead in October and November instead but that all depends on what happens with the T20 World Cup in Australia.
At the time of the postponement, BCCI secretary Jay Shah said: “Due to the evolving global health concerns regarding the coronavirus and lockdown measures implemented by the government of India to contain the spread of the pandemic, the IPL governing council of the BCCI has decided that the IPL 2020 season will be suspended until further notice.
“The health and safety of the nation and everyone involved in our great sport remains our top priority and as such, the BCCI along with the franchise owners, broadcaster, sponsors and all the stakeholders acknowledge that the IPL 2020 season will only commence when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”
