IPL 2020: Shane Warne Thinks Jos Buttler And Steve Smith Should Have Opened The Batting; Ben Stokes Better Suited In The Middle-Order

Rajasthan Royals’ mentor Shane Warne was slightly critical of the side’s batting order, opining that Jos Buttler should have opened the batting in IPL 2020. Rajasthan Royals ended up in the bottom of the points table after losing comprehensively to Kolkata Knight Riders in Dubai. It was the eighth loss for the inaugural IPL champions, remaining no longer in contention.

Rajasthan Royals promoted Jos Buttler to the opening spot in 2018 from where he registered five consecutive fifty-plus scores to take them to the playoffs. He did the same in the current edition; however, Buttler’s form was indifferent and managed only a single half-century. As a result, the management opened with Ben Stokes and Robin Uthappa with the pair being reasonably successful.

According to Shane Warne as reported by ESPN Cricinfo, Rajasthan Royals should have reverted to the batting order with which they went in three of their first four matches – opening with Jos Buttler and Steve Smith. The former leg-spinner conceded that any world XI would have Buttler as the opening batsman and Smith being a reliable player, would form the backbone of their batting line-up.

Shane Warne thinks Ben Stokes is better suited for a middle-order role:

The 145-Test veteran feels that while Ben Stokes is more than capable of playing well as an opener, he seems more suitable to bat in the middle-order. Since the all-rounder has mostly batted for England in the middle-order, it is good to allow him to flourish in that position. For Shane Warne, Jos Buttler and Steve Smith should have opened followed by Sanju Samson, Ben Stokes, Rahul Tewatia, and Riyan Parag.

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