Buttler and Stokes preparing for IPL despite uncertainty
The pandemic of COVID-19 has left not only the fate of the IPL 2020 season in a limbo, but also the players. With the future of the tournament uncertain, it becomes hard for anyone to keep themselves motivated and fit to go whenever the situation improves enough to restore normalcy. The Indian government announced a complete lockdown in the country which ends only on 14th of April. However, two English players are still optimistic that the tournament will go ahead, and are keeping themselves motivated amidst the global crisis.
"No news at the moment," Buttler told a Sky Sports Podcast. "We saw, initially, that it was going to be postponed. It's very hard to see this changing in the immediate future, so I don't see that as a possibility at the moment.
Buttler, however was hopeful of at least a curtailed version of the league ”Obviously, it's such a massive tournament for world cricket, so hopefully some of it can go ahead - perhaps a shortened tournament.”
"Obviously, very strange circumstances, but it's actually quite nice to spend some time at home, be with our little girl and actually just be a dad for a bit. I've also been doing some Pilates with my Mrs, in my cricket gear," he said. "The calendar is always so busy, so you're trying to find times when you can get a bit of a break, so I'm trying to use the time as a positive - although, of course, it's really unfortunate circumstances and very tough for everyone.” added Buttler, putting a positive spin on the unusual circumstance.
Meanwhile, Buttler’s England teammate, all-rounder Ben Stokes is training himself to be ready for when the IPL begins "At the moment my next competitive cricket is going to be in the IPL," Stokes told BBC Radio 5 Live. "That hasn't changed yet so I have to think I will be playing on April 20. I have to get my head round that I am playing even though in the back of my mind I know I am probably not," he said. "I have to build up and get myself physically in a position that if it does happen I am good to go. I cannot take three weeks off and expect the body to be ready for April 20 because it doesn't work like that. It might happen and if it does I don't want to be behind."
Stokes recollected the events leading up to the cancellation of the test series against Sri Lanka amidst the COVID - 19 scare. "I remember the day that we got told we were leaving Sri Lanka and it was midway through a warm-up game. Everyone was shell-shocked for half an hour in the changing room. It was such a weird feeling because we had been there for 10-12 days. We were building up to the first Test and then we were going home. But when you put everything together in terms of where the world with the coronavirus, and what was being said on tour, it was the wrong place to be at that time and everyone's health is more important than anything else in the world,” he said.
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