IPL 2022: RR openers Jos Buttler and Devdutt Padikkal run four, display amazing fitness levels

Rajasthan Royals (RR) faced the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 30th match of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) on April 18 (Monday). Both sides came into this encounter on the back of losses against Gujarat Titans and Sunrisers Hyderabad respectively and needed a good start to have an upper hand in the game. After being invited to bat first, the Royals’ opener Jos Buttler got the team off to a brilliant start with his attacking batting.

The England swashbuckler was in great touch on the day and began smashing the opposition bowlers from the word go. Interestingly, Buttler and his partner Devdutt Padikkal ended up running four as well during their brilliant opening stand. It happened in the third over of the innings when Umesh Yadav was bowling. The pacer delivered the last ball of the over on a yorker length which Jos Buttler squeezed to wide off backward point.

Venkatesh Iyer, however, chased the ball well and stopped it short of boundary by putting in a full-length dive. While he pulled back the ball from close to the boundary line, Sheldon Jackson did well to back him up and throw it to the wicketkeeper. Meanwhile, Buttler and Padikkal took advantage of the delayed throw and managed to run a massive four runs.

It was a risky run eventually as Jos Buttler had to put in a dive to reach his crease but replays confirmed he was safe. It was an exhibition of good running between the wickets from the Royals’ openers as they churned out an extra run.

Here’s the video:

Changes galore for RR in the game against KKR

Coming back to the game, Rajasthan Royals made as many as three changes for this encounter. They left out Rassie van der Dussen, James Neesham and Kuldeep Sen and included Karun Nair, Obed McCoy and Trent Boult in the playing XI. On the other hand, KKR made only a solitary change in dropping Aman Khan and replacing him with Shivam Mavi.