Jos Buttler : IPL is probably the best cricket experience I've ever had

01/19/2017

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler has described his first Indian Premier League last season with Mumbai Indians as the best cricket experience of his career. The 26-year-old has called for more England players to participate in the IPL, saying it would make them into well-rounded cricketers.

“I think the IPL is probably the best cricket experience I've ever had. I've learnt as much, not just about T20 but about myself, about all forms of cricket, about what it takes to become a top cricketer. It's the best experience I've had as a cricketer,”Buttler told a news conference in Cuttack.

Hopefully, from my point of view, there are more English guys involved in experiencing playing in these conditions, in front of these crowds, under the pressure of being overseas players.

Buttler

“Whether other people will feel that, I don't know. I could only have good things to say about it. So hopefully, from my point of view, there are more English guys involved in experiencing playing in these conditions, in front of these crowds, under the pressure of being overseas players,” PTI news agency quoted him as saying.

“It can only stand you in good stead, looking forward to when you play for England, and when you play in different competitions and knockout competitions, I think it is a great experience to be part of.”

The IPL 2017 auction is scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on Feb 4, and the season between April 5 and May 21.

Meanwhile, England will host Ireland for a two-match ODI series before the Champions Trophy at home from June 1 to 18.

Asked if his focus would be on Champions Trophy preparation or the IPL, Buttler said, “It's a tough question. End of the day, you want to play for England and represent England. Obviously the management will make the call on the players, and the availability for the Ireland games. I think its a great thing for Irish cricket as well to be playing England in England.

“One of the game is at Lord's as well, so that's a good thing for cricket as a whole. It is important for growing the game of cricket as whole. I understand that it is a tricky sort of situation – the IPL is a great experience but playing for England is obviously a fantastic opportunity and a privilege as well. It's a tough question.”

There's no place like India to come and play cricket. It is a fantastic experience for someone to cherish and really embrace.

Buttler

Looking back at the defeat in the opening ODI in Pune, Buttler said, “There's no place like India to come and play cricket. It is a fantastic experience for someone to cherish and really embrace. The atmosphere the other day in Pune (first ODI) was fantastic. The quieter it is, it's better for us. It's a fantastic challenge for us and a really enjoyable one.

“We've lost the first match, so straightaway it's a knock-out game for us tomorrow (Jan 19). Looking ahead, there's a tournament coming up in the summer and it's fantastic to be under the pressure.

“As a side if we can come from 1-0 down and win the series 2-1... Obviously we've got to progress one game at a time but I think it is great that we can get that excitement, not just for myself but for the group that straightaway tomorrow is a knockout type of a game. I think that's a real motivation.

“We reached 350 without anyone going on getting a 100. That's the difference between the two sides, two guys standing up for the Indian team and going past three figures. Getting to 350 should give us confidence. Guys do go on and make telling contributions, 350 plus is achievable for us as a side.

“He (Virat Kohli) occupies as much space as anyone else. He's been in fantastic form for a long period of time. His record is very good. Guys constantly have been coming up with plans for him.

“India have some other fantastic players in their side as well. We can't focus on just one player and forget about the others. Something we've been trying to do as groupis focus on our strengths and really back out strengths. Obviously you have to have specific plans.”

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