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IPL 2020: Jos Buttler To Miss Rajasthan Royals’ Opening Game Against Chennai Super Kings

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England wicket-keeper batsman Jos Buttler will miss the opening game of Rajasthan Royals in the 13th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The Rajasthan-based franchise is scheduled to play their first match against Chennai Super Kings on September 22 (Tuesday) at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah.

Jos Buttler is currently staying in Dubai with his family. He is serving the mandatory six-day isolation period, instructed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

According to reports, the BCCI earlier allowed England and Australia players to undergo a 36-hour quarantine instead of six days. The Board stated that the players are travelling from one bio-bubbe in the UK to another in the UAE. Although, Buttler decided against it and hence, he will join the RR camp from their second encounter.

“I’m unfortunately going to miss the first match for Rajasthan because I’m going to be doing my quarantine period because I’m here with my family – which is great that the Royals have allowed me to have my family out here,” said the Royals opener in an Instagram live from the official handle of the franchise.

“It’s a huge help having my family here with me in lockdown,” he added.

Buttler met his family during Australia T20Is
The Englishman also decided to miss the final Twenty20 International against Australia to spend time with his family members. As a result, Buttler came to the Emirates separately and will undergo a mandatory isolation period.

Coming to Buttler’s performance with the Royals, the wicketkeeper-batsman did exceptionally well last season. He scored 311 runs in eight matches while opening the RR innings. The 30-year old smashed runs at a strike-rate of 151.70 with three half-centuries to his name.

New Zealand Defeats India By Six Wickets Win In Their First Warm-Up Fixture Before CWC 2019

The blue tigers startEd their warm-up campaign on not so happy note as the Indian squad faced an upsetting defeat against New Zealand in their very first warm-up session at Kennington Oval Stadium at London on Saturday. Initially what looks like a perfect start for Indian cricketers after winning the toss turned into a joyless ending as New Zealand  beat Virat Kohli-led squad by six wickets with 77 balls still left in the match.

In every cricket match, the pitch plays a great role in the winning or losing of a team and so in this warm up game also as the seaming pitch of Kennington helped New Zealand’s pacers a lot which probably became the reason for India’s defeat. While giving the overview of the pitch former South African skipper Shaun Pollock said,”It’s cloudy and overcast, plenty of grass on the wicket. It all depends on the weather conditions, and if the tracks are slow and dry, it will obviously help the spinners”. He also added,”English weather is so unpredictable that you get a week of rain and you have green tracks”.

India lost its three crucial wickets for 24 runs right in the beginning of the match after electing to bat first. It was star batsman Ravindra Jadeja who helped the Indian squad to cross at least 150 runs in the match as he scored 54 runs off 50 balls before losing his wicket against fast bowler Lockie Ferguson. While the perfect finisher MS Dhoni who is considered to be the backbone of Indian National Cricket Team was also dismissed cheaply by Tim Southee after scoring 17 off 42 balls.

Chasing down the paltry target of 180 runs in 50 overs was like child-play for New Zealand as captain Kane Wiliamson’s 67 off 87 balls and Ross Taylor’s 71 off 75 balls helped their side to reach closer to the target and clinch the win.

India will next take on Bangladesh squad in the second warm-up fixture on May 28 at Cardiff Stadium while New Zealand will face Windies at Bristol County ground on the same day.

This is just the beginning for India may be they would turn their fortunes in the showpiece event of ICC World Cup 2019 starting from May 30 across the mesmerizing venues of England and Wales. Two-time World Cup champions will start their Cricket Cup campaign against South Africa on June 5th at The Rose Bowl Stadium in Southampton.