Former English cricketer Stuart Broad was unwavering in his belief that England's white-ball captain Jos Buttler will soon rediscover his spark in the fast-paced realm of the 20-over Indian Premier League (IPL), despite his subdued performance so far this season.
As Buttler gears up to lead England's defence at the upcoming T20 World Cup in June, his current struggles with the Rajasthan Royals haven't gone unnoticed.
With just 35 runs in three matches for the unbeaten Royals, Buttler's form has been under scrutiny. "He's been in a bit of a lean patch since the 50-over World Cup in India," said Broad.
Despite this, Broad remains optimistic about his former teammate's prospects. "Although he hasn't quite found his form in this tournament yet, he's been dismissed twice by some pretty good bowling. I think this will be the tournament where he plays well."
Broad highlighted Buttler's synergy with fellow batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal as a key factor in Rajasthan's success. "He has a great relationship with Jaiswal at the top of the order, and if both of them fire, the Rajasthan Royals will certainly make the playoffs, if not challenge for the trophy."
Reflecting on Buttler's past performances, Broad acknowledges his inconsistency, citing his remarkable turnaround from IPL's Most Valuable Player in 2022 to a forgettable outing in 2023. Moreover, Buttler's struggles extended to the 50-over World Cup in India last year, where England's campaign ended prematurely.
Despite the setbacks, Broad advocates for patience, confident that Buttler will bounce back once he finds his rhythm. "I think we need to be patient with him," he stressed. "Once he starts facing a lot of balls, he's going to score a lot of runs in this tournament."
