Buttler Reflects on IPL's Impact and His Career
Former England captain Jos Buttler credits the Indian Premier League (IPL) with revitalizing his career and providing financial rewards, despite the controversies involved. Speaking on his podcast, For The Love Of, released Tuesday, Buttler discussed the influence of the IPL and drew inspiration from fellow English cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who was part of the league's early years.
“I will always be grateful for what the IPL gave me,” Buttler said. “It gave me a lot of controversy, I earned a lot of money, but it also saved my career because I made trusting relationships that I was able to call upon to give longevity to my career.”
The podcast featured a conversation between Buttler and Pietersen, who reminisced about their experiences playing in the IPL and Pietersen’s transition to a YouTube career. Pietersen, 45, was among the pioneers who challenged the traditional English cricket establishment’s uneasy stance on the IPL, enjoying the opportunity to play alongside legends like Rahul Dravid and Jacques Kallis.
“[The England and Wales Cricket Board] said: ‘You’re only allowed there for two weeks and then you’ve got to come back and play the Test matches,’” Pietersen recalled. “And that caused the biggest rift – that was the breakdown in my relationship with the ECB.”
Evolution of English Players in IPL and Domestic Leagues
Buttler’s career reflects the significant changes since Pietersen’s era. At 35, Buttler is set to play in the Hundred for Manchester Super Giants, one of four IPL-affiliated teams integrated into the English domestic competition. He also represents Durban’s Super Giants in the SA20 league. While Pietersen had to negotiate hard to play 36 IPL matches, Buttler is about to start his 11th IPL season, having scored seven centuries in 121 games across three teams, making him England’s most successful IPL export.
“You fought a lot of battles for the guys now,” Buttler acknowledged to Pietersen. “You’re welcome.”
Pietersen added, “If you got paid $50m tomorrow to go and play cricket in Saudi Arabia, I’d be so happy for you.”
Buttler’s Current Form and IPL Prospects
Currently, Buttler is battling a dip in form following a difficult T20 World Cup, where he recorded five single-digit scores before a 17-ball 25 in a high-scoring chase of 254 runs. His international future has been questioned amid concerns about a decline typical at his age. However, Buttler has expressed his intention to continue playing, hoping that a stint with Gujarat Titans in the IPL will help restore his form ahead of the English summer. He ended last season with an impressive average near 60 and a strike rate exceeding 160, batting behind the strong opening partnership of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan.
England Players in IPL and SA20
This season, Buttler’s teammates include Tom Banton and Luke Wood, with a total of 12 English players participating in the IPL. Sam Curran is sidelined due to injury, missing his Rajasthan Royals stint, while Ben Duckett faces a ban from the IPL until 2029 after choosing to play in the County Championship to prepare for Test cricket, a decision that aligns with traditionalist views.
Jordan Cox, who topped the Hundred charts last year, has earned an IPL contract with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, the defending champions. The 25-year-old Essex batsman is yet to make his IPL debut. Additionally, David Payne, 35, may appear in the IPL for the first time after being called up as an injury replacement. Payne, who earned his only England one-day international cap in 2022, has enjoyed recent franchise success, winning the Big Bash and ILT20 tournaments. He has signed with Sunrisers Hyderabad alongside Brydon Carse and Liam Livingstone.
Political Tensions and Controversies Surrounding IPL
The IPL season opens amid political tensions and controversies. Sunrisers Hyderabad face scrutiny following remarks by former India captain Sunil Gavaskar, who criticized the franchise’s decision to field a team in the Hundred’s Leeds offshoot. Writing for the Mid-Day newspaper, Gavaskar stated that this move “indirectly contributes to the deaths of Indian soldiers and civilians” and urged the franchise to reconsider, highlighting the sensitive political environment as the tournament begins in July.
These tensions are further complicated by the fraught cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan. Bangladesh is also involved; Mustafizur Rahman was removed from Kolkata Knight Riders’ squad in January amid escalating India-Bangladesh tensions, triggering backlash from his team.
Aftermath of the IPL Victory Parade Tragedy
Beyond political issues, the IPL community continues to grapple with the aftermath of a tragic crowd crush that occurred last June outside Bengaluru’s Chinnaswamy Stadium. The incident happened during a victory parade celebrating Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s first IPL title. Thousands had gathered to celebrate, overwhelming authorities. The joyous scenes from the previous night, including Virat Kohli being swarmed by teammates after the final ball, were replaced by images of chaos, with bodies being carried away and abandoned shoes scattered around.
The role of RCB in organizing the parade came under scrutiny. The Karnataka state government, facing criticism from opposition parties, stated that the franchise, its events partner, and the state cricket association “unilaterally decided to hold the victory celebration without prior consultation with the police and without obtaining the necessary permissions or licence for such celebration.”
Three months after the tragedy, RCB announced compensation of 25 lakh rupees (£20,000) to each affected family. This amount contrasts sharply with the vast sums circulating in the IPL, including the recent £1.33 billion sale of RCB to a consortium led by private equity group Blackstone. As the new season opens on Saturday at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, the focus remains on the game and the eleven players on the field.
