Vaughan takes a U-turn on England players returning before IPL playoffs

Former England skipper Michael Vaughan has reversed his stance on England players returning before the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 playoffs. 

Skipper Jos Buttler, Will Jacks, and Phil Salt were unavailable for their respective teams in the three playoff games that were played in the playoffs. 

Vaughan had said earlier that the English players would benefit from congregating before the World Cup during the Pakistan series as they need some time together to get in groove for the big tournament. After all, their poor performance in the ODI World Cup in India 2023 still hangs heavy over the English side. 

“If you are going back to represent your country, which England players have done, I think that's fair enough. They are playing a series against Pakistan. The England players wouldn't have gone back if it wasn't for the Pakistan series,” Vaughan said on Cricbuzz. 

“The series was on the calendar. With English cricket, the defence of the 50-over World Cup was a poor one by England here in India. So I think Jos [Buttler] and his team get together for five games against Pakistan. The actual lead-up to the 50-over World Cup wasn't perfect either. There were a lot of swaps and changes.

“They have now gone back to 5 matches, get all the squad together, work on a bit of culture, everyone playing their right roles, I think it will give them a better chance.”

Many former Indian players, including Sunil Gavaskar and Irfan Pathan, had earlier expressed their displeasure over the English players leaving the IPL in the middle. Gavaskar even suggested fines and punishments for such players and their boards. 

Vaughan, however, now seems to have changed his stance on the topic as was evident during the podcast, Club Prairie Fire, where he appears as a regular guest. He feels that the IPL crowds and pressure of knockout games would have been a much intent preparation for the World Cup than playing a bilateral series against Pakistan. 

“I think you’re going to miss the trick by sending all their players home,” Vaughan said. 

“You know, I think Will Jacks, Phil Salt, Josh Butler, in particular, playing in the IPL in the eliminators, pressure, crowd, expectation. I would argue that playing here is better preparation than playing a T20 game against Pakistan.”

“I’m all for international cricket, but now and again, this tournament is particularly so exposed to pressure. These players are under huge pressure from fans, owners, and social media. It’s massive.

“I just felt particularly those two, and Butler, probably not as much, but I still think he could have stayed here. But Will Jacks and Phil Salt, I think they’d have been better prepared staying here playing in the IPL, then going back to and playing a game.”

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