IPL 2021: Michael Vaughan questions RR’s tactics of using Jos Buttler against PBKS

Former England captain Michael Vaughan has questioned the tactics of Rajasthan Royals who played their first match of IPL 2021 against Punjab Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday. The ex-cricketer, who is quite regular on social media with his thoughts on cricket, was not happy with the way the Royals used England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler.

The Royals opened their 2021 IPL campaign under their new captain Sanju Samson taking the gloves. Buttler, on the other hand, who was in the playing XI, didn’t take the gloves. The England keeper has a lot more experience of keeping, but the Royals still decided to have their skipper behind the stumps. 

The decision to choose Samson as keeper ahead of Buttler didn’t go down well with Vaughan. According to the former batsman, Buttler should have been preferred for his tactical experience. He took to Twitter and also tagged the Royals in his tweet. Vaughan wrote, “Having @josbuttler behind the stumps for his tactical experience is crucial … Why isn’t he keeping @rajasthanroyals !????”

Having @josbuttler behind the stumps for his tactical experience is crucial … Why isn’t he keeping @rajasthanroyals !???? #IPL2021

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 12, 2021

What are you thinking Rajasthan Royals: Michael Vaughan 

After this, when Rajasthan came out to bat, Vaughan was unhappy with the decision of not opening with Buttler. The Royals decided to open the innings with Ben Stokes and Manan Vohra. Interestingly, Buttler opens for England in T20I. As a matter of fact, it was in 2018 when Royals had used the Englishman as an opener which further prompted his promotion to the England T20I opener’s role. 

Vaughan wrote on Twitter, “And now @josbuttler doesn’t Open !!!!!!!!!! What are you thinking @rajasthanroyals !!!!! #IPL.” Buttler was seen opening the innings for the Royals in the 2019 season, which helped him get great results. He continued that role in the 2020 season as well, but due to various reasons, he was demoted to the middle order, where he got runs towards the latter half of the season. 

And now @josbuttler doesn’t Open !!!!!!!!!! What are you thinking @rajasthanroyals !!!!! #IPL

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 12, 2021

During some time then, Ben Stokes had returned to the Royals line-up having missed a certain part of the season. He came back into the XI and was used as an opener. During Stokes’ time as their opener, the southpaw got a few good knocks, including a century.

The same might have prompted the Royals to continue with Stokes as the opener. The experiment didn’t work against Punjab Kings on Monday. Chasing 222, Rajasthan Royals lost Stokes for a three-ball duck and lost the game by four runs.

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