Former Indian cricketer Pragyan Ojha has questioned Rajasthan Royals for their logic behind sending the England allrounder — Ben Stokes as the opener even though he has not delivered as per expectations in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020.
Ben Stokes has managed to only score 80 runs in four matches. He hasn’t been able to set a good base for RR which had added pressure on the middle-order to score runs.
Pragyan Ojha hasn’t been able to understand the science behind Ben Stokes playing as the opening batsman though he is a middle-order batsman. He believes that the management shouldn’t experiment with the natural position of players until they are struggling.
“We all are asking the question (Why is Ben Stokes not playing in the middle-order?). Every player, they have played a particular brand of cricket and are comfortable in a particular position. So you have to give them that first. If that doesn’t work, then you change your plan.
“If you look at all the successful captains, they would give the bowler the freedom to set their plans and execute them and if that doesn’t work, then they pitch to step in and give their ideas,” Pragyan Ojha said.
Pragyan Ojha advises Royals to play Jos Buttler as the opener:
Pragyan Ojha believes that Jos Buttler should return to the opener position while Ben Stokes should be demoted and play the role of finisher.
“So when you know Ben Stokes has delivered at No.5 and No. 6, then why not have him there? You have a great opener with you. It’s not like you don’t have an opener. You have a brilliant opener who is getting you runs, Jos Buttler. Why change your positions?”
Jos Buttler had started the campaign for Rajasthan Royals this year as the opener. He has amassed 262 runs in nine matches at the strike rate of 143.95.