Team Rajasthan have named New Zealand wicket-keeper batsman Glenn Phillips as a replacement for English gloveman Jos Buttler for the remainder of the Indian T20 League 2021 season in UAE.
Here we go confirmed! 🤪
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) August 21, 2021
See you soon in Pink, Glenn. 💗#HallaBol | #RoyalsFamily | #IPL2021 pic.twitter.com/ZBlV161oJf
The development comes after Buttler pulled out of the second leg of the tournament owing to the impending birth of his second child.
Apart from Buttler, the Rajasthan franchise will also miss the services of their other two England stars Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer.
While pacer Archer has been ruled out for the rest of the year due to an elbow fracture, all-rounder Stokes will be unavailable as he has taken a break due to mental-health issues.
“English cricketers Jofra Archer and Jos Buttler will not be available for the remainder of Indian T20 League 2021. The franchise wishes Jofra Archer good health and a swift recovery, and Jos Buttler and his wife Louise a happy, healthy second baby," said the Rajasthan franchise in a statement.
Jos Buttler will not be part of the remainder of #IPL2021, as he and Louise are expecting a second child soon.
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) August 21, 2021
We wish them well, and can't wait for the newest member of the #RoyalsFamily. 💗 pic.twitter.com/rHfeQTmvvg
Phillips is currently in the Caribbean to play for Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL), which begins this week. The 24-year-old is expected to join the Rajasthan squad in the UAE on September 19.
Phillips was in sensational form in the recently concluded 100-ball League where he amassed 214 runs in eight matches for Cardiff at a strike rate of 146.57.
Having made his T20I debut against South Africa in 2017, the right-handed batsman has scored 506 runs in 25 matches at a strike rate of 149.70.
In November last year, Phillips recorded the fastest T20I century by a New Zealand batsman as he smashed a 46-ball ton against West Indies. He has also slammed two tons in the shortest format for his domestic cricket team Auckland and one for CPL franchise Jamaica Tallawahs.
The ongoing edition of Indian T20 League was suspended in May due to rising COVID-19 cases in India at the time and will now resume in UAE from September 19.
Led by Sanju Samson, Rajasthan are currently fifth in the Indian T20 League 2021 points table with three wins and four defeats.
The Rajasthan franchise will resume their Indian T20 League 2021 campaign against Punjab in Dubai on September 21.
Featured photo: DAVID ROWLAND / AFP
