In-form Buttler returns for showdown against Royals

Looking good: Buttler will look to make things difficult for the RR bowlers. | File Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

Jos Buttler will see a very familiar colour on the opposite side on Wednesday night: pink. Rajasthan Royals must be hoping he doesn’t see red.

The Royals letting go of Buttler, who struck seven hundreds in as many IPL seasons for them, was one of the biggest surprises of the last auction. The England superstar may have been dismissed for a duck in the previous match, but before that, his scores for Gujarat Titans read 54, 39 and 73 not out.

Buttler would be just one of the concerns for Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium. With three wins on the trot, the Titans are looking good at the moment.

Mohammed Siraj is fresh and fiery. R. Sai Kishore has batters in a spin. Captain Shubman Gill and B. Sai Sudharsan are complementing each other wonderfully with strokes of elegance. Washington Sundar is getting the fans hooked again, reminding them of his immortal hook against Pat Cummins in India’s greatest Test win four years ago at the Gabba. And Sherfane Rutherford is striking at close to 177.

So RR’s bowlers have a task on their hands on a track the batters have largely relished. But the visiting side could take heart from Jofra Archer’s magnificent return to form.  

And the Royals have run into some form themselves, too. They have won their last two matches, after losing the first two of the season.

Yashasvi Jaiswal’s return to form could not have been timed better. That should take some pressure off his opening partner and skipper, Sanju Samson.