- May 14, 2025
Just as IPL 2025 was all the craziness, England Cricket made a bold decision by removing Jos Buttler and Will Jacks from the tournament mid-way. Yep, you read that right. While fans were expecting some fireworks from Buttler for the Gujarat Titans and Jacks for the Mumbai Indians, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) pumped the brakes. Why? To prepare for future international assignments, starting with a Test against Zimbabwe and a limited-overs series against the West Indies. But is this a good decision or just bad timing? Let’s take a look.
The Bigger Picture: England’s White-Ball Reset
There is no doubt that England’s recent performance in ICC tournaments has been very forgettable. A series of disappointing performances has meant the ECB is now in a situation where it needs to press the reset button across all formats—and it starts with newly-appointed all-format captain Harry Brook. There is a clear intent to build a consistent, winning culture through this new leadership journey.
In calling back IPL players like Jacks and Buttler, it’s clear England is putting national first and franchise second. There isn’t a lot of time for travel, rest, and acclimatization. The ECB is in effect saying: ‘Enough juggling, England first.’
Let’s face it- England needs its best players totally focused and on the same page, especially after the World Cup calamity in 2023. They are betting on continuity, familiarity, and a collective purpose, so forgoing a couple of IPL matches to get that right seems a fair price to pay.
Franchise Fallout: Who Loses More—Players or Teams?
From a franchise perspective, this is a bit of a kick in the guts. When Buttler is in form, he does not just win games – he finishes one in the power play. Will Jacks was becoming the x-factor for the Mumbai Indians – versatile, fearless, and near his peak. The timing of the injury ahead of the playoffs (possibly in it) has a significant impact on their run.
From the players’ perspective, losing IPL knockout matches means losing out on huge opportunities, not just financially, but also building their T20 brand in front of the World Cup. But maybe long term, having a central role in England’s new white-ball strategy is even more valuable.
So, who loses more here? In the short term, the franchises. For Buttler and Jacks, though, this decision could be a trade-off that is worth it with World Cup glory or a longer run in international cricket.
The IPL vs Country Debate—Again!
This whole incident reignites the continuous debate over the IPL vs national duty situation. Should players choose a T20 league, or their country, given it is a World Cup year?
Some boards, such as Cricket Australia and the ECB, have consistently made it clear that the country comes first. All three stakeholders—fans, franchises, and even broadcasters—pour money into these household names, but it hurts when they go missing just before key stick games. The loss of international names provides an incoherence to a game losing its competitive nature.
But from the perspective of the ECB, it works! The white-ball team is in transition. Harry Brook needs a familiar group around him from day one. That means more training camps, bonding, and agreed strategies (and not a couple of guys arriving last minute from India after the IPL finals).
Other England players going to the IPL, such as Phil Salt, are still able to play until their teams are out or the timing works for them. So, it seems to be some flexibility. But for key guys like Buttler and Jacks, who are in both squads, absolutely no compromise.
What do you think – a visionary call from the ECB or a myopic risk that may well come back to ‘haunt’ them (and the players) come the autumn? Share your thoughts in the comments – this is far from finished!
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