Former Indian cricketer, Aakash Chopra has lauded Rajasthan Royals (RR) opening batter, for his knock against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), as RR beat CSK by three runs in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2023.
While in the game, for RR, England’s limited-over format skipper Jos Buttler scored a brilliant 52 (36), to take his side post 175/8 after the end of 20 overs. Cricketer cum commentator, Chopra considers Buttler the best T20 batter in the world.
Aakash Chopra considers Jos Buttler knows the DNA of T20 cricket-
“Yashasvi Jaiswal got out early but Jos Buttler – what an amazing player he is. No one understands this game’s DNA better than him. When you see him play, it seems he plays a slightly high-risk cricket, but there is no doubt, in my mind at least, isn’t he the best T20 batter in the world,” said the Ex-Indian Test opener.
While in the game (CSK vs RR), MS Dhoni-led CSK won the toss and opted to field first, Sanju Samson-led RR batted first and posted 175/8 in 20 overs, Jos Buttler scored a brilliant 50 at the top of the order, essential contribution by Ravichandran Ashwin 30 (22) and Shimron Hetymer 30 (18), helped visitors to post a fighting total.
“No one even comes close to him, the consistency with which the guy scores runs. He hits whenever he wants and chooses his prey – whom to hit and whom to play carefully. When he is playing, the law of averages is also left behind,” he further added.
Milestone ?
3⃣0⃣0⃣0⃣ IPL runs & going strong ? ?
Well done, @josbuttler! ? ?
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/IgV0ZtiJJA#TATAIPL | #CSKvRR pic.twitter.com/W8h17R9Ezv
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 12, 2023
Whereas in the last edition, Jos Buttler won the IPL 2022 Orange Cap after finishing with 863 runs at an average of 57.33, he smashed four hundred and four half-centuries at a strike rate of 149.05.While RR was the runner-up after getting beaten by Gujarat Titans ( GT) in the Finals.
“He (Buttler) played well, but Sanju Samson came and went, although Devdutt Padikkal came before him at No. 3 and scored runs as well. The ball was not getting stuck in Moeen Ali’s hands; he dropped two catches and missed a run-out.
“Jos Buttler hit 18 runs off his (Moeen’s) first over. Sanju Samson fell prey to Jaddu (Ravindra Jadeja), who picked up two wickets. Jaddu was absolutely brilliant. If Moeen had held on to Ravichandran Ashwin’s catch, it would have been three wickets,” concluded Chopra on CSK vs RR clash.
In the chase, CSK’s opener Devon Conway scored the brilliant 50 (38) balls, and Ajinkya Rahane chipped in at one down position with 31 (19), but after Conway got dismissed when CSK was 113-6 in 15 overs, the star duo of Dhoni and Jadeja took the game to the last over, but fell short of three runs, after 21 runs were needed in last over.
For inaugural edition champions, R. Ashwin picked two wickets and later was awarded player of the match for his all-round performance.
Now, the Chennai-based side has lost and won two games each, in IPL 2023, now they will be up against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) in Bengaluru on April 17.