Rajasthan Royals have been dealt a crushing blow as their opener Jos Butler has pulled out of the UAE leg of the Indian Premier League 2021. The England Cricket Board has given the go-ahead to its players to participate in the league but the keeper-batsman has withdrawn due to personal obligations. Buttler and his wife are expecting their second child, and the cricketer will spend time with his wife and the newborn before landing in UAE for the T20 World Cup 2021. RR also confirmed that they have brought Glen Phillips on board as a replacement.
The franchise’s statement read: Jos Buttler will not be part of the remainder of #IPL2021, as he and Louise are expecting a second child soon. We wish them well, and can’t wait for the newest member of the #RoyalsFamily.
Buttler is a vital cog in the Royals’ wheel, having scored 254 runs in seven matches at an astonishing strike rate of above 150 in the first half of the league. The slam-bang supremo was responsible for getting RR off to a flier, while being a senior his tidbits of advice to the captain were also of paramount importance in the context of the game.
The marquee event had to be suspended midway owing to the proliferation of Covid-19 cases in India. The remainder of the tournament is set to be conducted in the UAE from September 19. The BCCI has laid out strict COVID-19 protocols to ensure smooth completion of the 31 IPL games in store.
