Follow UsJos Buttler is arguably one of the best white-ball batters in the world at the moment, but even the best have had times when their form has dipped to a new low, as Buttler experienced in IPL 2023.
After a stellar 863-run season in 2022, there was a profound level of expectation on the English batter to replicate his form. However, over the next two years, all he could amass was 800 runs in total, bringing about a massive dip in his form. It was during that period when Buttler walked up to Indian icon Virat Kohli, seeking his advice.
“Another cool thing about the IPL is that teams train at the same place. I enjoy watching people practise, and how they go about their things. A lot of times, you see after the match how people have a chat with Kohli and Dhoni about their own game,” Buttler told Stuart Broad on the YouTube Channel ‘For The Love Of Cricket’.
Buttler also revealed what Kohli’s advice was and how it helped him improve his own game.
“That one season in 2022, I scored 863 runs and he’s got the record for most runs in an IPL season (974 runs). I found the next season difficult, as to how I can live up to that. We were playing against RCB, and Virat was in the next nets. He just finished batting, and I wanted to go and ask him ‘How do you manage expectations?’”
“There’s no more expectations on him than anyone in world cricket, almost a billion people are backing him. He was so generous with his time and helpful, he said, ‘You just have to accept that good season and don’t try to replicate it. Even when you feel pressure, that’s all on your own you are putting on. Life is going to be fine,” he further added.
It wasn’t just Kohli talking about his game that surprised Buttler, but also the way the 36-year-old spoke about the Englishman’s game.
“He spoke about some of the insecurities he has about his own game and his practice. You are like he’s arguably the best player of our generation and white-ball cricket, I remember coming away from it being so thankful for his insights. I was so amazed by the knowledge that he had about my own game. He’s human as well, and he said ‘Sometimes, I don’t know how to play’. IPL is the best academy in the world, where you can pick up something from someone.
“It might not be about white-ball cricket, someone could be playing with AB de Villiers, and talk about red-ball cricket. It might help someone improve over the next six or twelve months. That’s another reason why I believe that the Indian players are improving their levels, and growing up and up.”