ICC World Cup 2023: "It Definitely Helps You Be Prepared" - Jos Buttler Accepts Playing In IPL Will Help Players In ODI WC

England ODI skipper Jos Buttler opened up on the advantage players will get for participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and said that it will definitely help the players to prepare.

Jos Buttler has been playing in the IPL since the 2016 season and is now playing for the Rajasthan-based franchise.

In the 16th edition of the IPL, Buttler played 14 league matches from which he scored 392 runs with a strike rate of 139.01 and an average of 28.00. The 32-year-old’s highest score in the IPL 2023 was 95 runs. He slammed four half-centuries this season.

Jos Buttler’s experience on the Indian pitches will definitely give them an extra advantage to dominate other opponents. It is not just Buttler but many English players have taken part in the franchise cricket league in India for the past several years.

England are coming into this extravaganza tournament as the defending champions and will be under a lot of pressure to retain the trophy.

England have announced their provisional ODI World Cup squad where they have snubbed the 24-year-old Harry Brook to make space for Ben Stokes who returned from his ODI retirement to take part in the forthcoming World Cup.

Ben Stokes, the 32-year-old, has been playing in the IPL since 2017 and has a good grip on the Indian conditions which forced the team selectors to include him in the provisional squad. In the IPL 2023, Ben Stokes played for the Chennai-based franchise.

It’s not an advantage for England because everyone is obviously exposed to that: Jos Buttler

While speaking to ESPNcricinfo’s Cricket Monthly, Jos Buttler said that it is great for the team since so many players in the squad have played in the Indian Premier League and know the conditions in India, which will help the team to prepare.

“It’s not an advantage for England because everyone is obviously exposed to that. It’s great for us that we have had so many players come and play in the IPL and know what it’s like out here. It definitely helps you be prepared,” Jos Buttler said.

England will play their first match of the tournament in the inaugural game of the tournament on October 5th at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad against New Zealand.

The Three Lions will lock horns against Rohit Sharma’s India on October 29th at Ekana Sports City in Lucknow.