'Last Season Counts Nothing,' Jos Buttler After Blasting 54 off 22 vs SRH
Buttler hits a shot against SRH (Source: BCCI)
Rajasthan Royals top three, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson charted identical half-centuries against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening IPL 2023 fixture. Buttler in particular took the attack to SRH from the outset, bolstering the Royals to 85 runs within the powerplay itself.
The dynamic English opener listed seven boundaries and three sixes in just the 22 deliveries he faced in the match to unleash 54 at the top of the order. Powering the Royals to a match-winning total, the cricketer was fittingly adjudged as ‘Player of the Match’.
Jos Buttler won the ‘Orange Cap’ for the Royals last year with his 863-run season tally. England’s T20 World Cup-winning captain seems to have carried his fine IPL tune with the bat this season as well, as his 22-ball 54 turned out to be a decisive factor in his side’s 72-run win over the SRH.
After the match, the 32-year-old said that he is really enjoying his batting at the moment and he is trying to keep a clear mind. He also described the win as a fantastic start to the tournament for his side. Buttler said:
"Fantastic start for us. We had a really good season last year but it counts for nothing this year. I plan a little bit but you react on the day and assess the conditions. Try and play accordingly, try and put the opposition under pressure. Really enjoying my batting at the moment and trying to keep a clear mind."
"I'm just trying to keep a clear mind and try to react. Once you get a good start in the powerplay, not too wickets down, allows you to be quite aggressive and looking for the big shots."
Rajasthan Royals will now go up against the Punjab Kings for their next fixture of the season. The match will be played in Assam on April 5.
 "Aakash Saini")
