NEW DELHI: England captain Jos Buttler acknowledged that his team’s ongoing tour of India has not gone as planned but emphasised that it serves as "as good a preparation as you can have" for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan later this month.
Following a disappointing 1-4 defeat in the T20I series, England is set to begin a three-match ODI series against India in Nagpur on Thursday. Buttler believes these matches will help fine-tune their preparations ahead of their Champions Trophy opener against Australia on February 22 in Lahore.
Root’s Return a Major Boost for England
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England has received a significant boost with the return of veteran batter Joe Root. The experienced right-hander, who has played 171 ODIs, recently displayed strong form in the SA20 while representing Paarl Royals.
"Root is one of the great players of the game. He’s been a vital part of ODI cricket for England for a long time and has loads of experience, which will be beneficial for some of the guys who haven’t played as much," Buttler said on the eve of the first ODI. "He has a crucial role to play in these matches."
The England skipper reiterated his team’s commitment to their trademark aggressive approach, both with the bat and ball.
"We want to put pressure on the opposition with the bat. Taking wickets is crucial because if you let batters settle, they can hurt you," Buttler explained. "It's always about execution—whether you want to be aggressive, conservative, or measured, you have to execute it well."
Buttler also lauded India captain Rohit Sharma for his fearless approach, particularly in the 2023 World Cup, where India reached the final before losing to Australia.
"If you look at that World Cup, the two teams in the final played really positive and aggressive cricket. The way Travis Head took on that final with the bat was outstanding," Buttler said.
"Rohit deserves a lot of credit for pushing India toward that style of play, and we want to do the same."
With T20 cricket’s rise and Test cricket experiencing a resurgence, the relevance of the 50-over format has been a topic of debate. Buttler acknowledged the concerns but still values ODI cricket.
"I'm unsure about the future of ODIs. It has always been one of my favorite formats, but it has been pushed toward the margins due to the rise of T20 and franchise cricket," he admitted.
"However, if you ask players about winning a World Cup, they’d probably still prioritize a 50-over World Cup over a T20 one—for now. The key is scheduling. If you get the best players on the park, fans will always be excited to watch."
As England gears up for the ODIs against India, Buttler and his men hope to use the series as a launchpad for a strong Champions Trophy campaign.
