RR vs PBKS: Why is Jos Buttler not opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals?

The Rajasthan Royals camp surprised one and all with their opening duo. While chasing a mammoth total of 198 set by Punjab Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Assam, RR surprised one and all by sending Ravichandran Ashwin to open the innings along with Yashasvi Jaiswal.

RR vs PBKS: Why is Jos Buttler not opening the batting for Rajasthan Royals?

Ravichandran Ashwin opening the innings isn’t something fans are accustomed to, but the veteran off spinner had to open the innings as Jos picked up an injury while taking Shahrukh Khan’s catch in the last over of PBKS’ innings. Shahrukh hit a low full toss from Jason Holder towards the long on boundary. The right-hander couldn’t time the ball well and Jos scampered from the long on boundary to take a scintillating sliding catch. However, while taking the catch, the Englishmen hurt is finger and immediately rushed towards the dressing room.

Ashwin came out to open the innings alongside the young Yashasvi Jaiswal, but the latter was dismissed in the second over of the innings by Arshdeep Singh. Jaiswal was caught at the extra cover by the substitute player Matthew Short.

Jos Buttler came out to bat at no 3

It wasn’t a long wait for Jos Buttler to get a flavor of the wicket as the Englishmen came out to bat at no 3 after the dismissal of Yashasvi Jaiswal. It was a surprise to see him come out at no 3 given his finger injury.

Meanwhile, the ploy of promoting Ashwin to open the innings didn’t work for RR as the right-hander could only last for four deliveries and was dismissed by Arshdeep Singh in the fourth over of the innings. Ashwin was caught by Dhawan at mid-on while attempting to pull a short ball. At the time of writing, RR were 39 for the loss of 2 wickets in 4 overs.