IPL 2022: We know Shane Warne is looking down on us with a lot of pride today – Jos Buttler

Rajasthan Royals’ opening batter Jos Buttler feels Shane Warne will be looking down on them with a lot of pride after they qualified for the final of the Tata IPL 2022. Warne took Rajasthan Royals to glory in the debut season of the IPL when not many had put their money on them as they were the underdogs.

The former Australian spinner had led from the front as he had scalped 19 wickets in 15 matches and had got the best out of his players. Since then, RR is now able to make it to the IPL final for the first time. But the cricketing world received the shocking news as Warne suffered a heart attack recently and took his last breath.

RR captain also talked about the great Shane Warne after RR’s win against GT.

“The tournament right from the start has been for him, and I think we need to take one more step for him. It’s really special. I don’t want to talk too much about it but we’re one step closer. We want to do something special for him,” Samson said.

On the other hand, RR has been simply outstanding in the Tata IPL 2022. RR finished at the second place in the points table with nine wins from 14 matches in the league stage. The inaugural champions lost the first qualifier against GT but bounced back stronger in the second qualifier against RCB to win by seven wickets.

Jos Buttler continued his dream form in the second qualifier against RCB as he scored a majestic knock of 106 runs to help his team chase down 158 runs with ease. Buttler has scored 824 runs in 16 matches of Tata IPL 2022 (before IPL final) at an impressive average of 58.86 and a strike rate of 151.47. The talisman has scored four centuries in the tournament.

“You mention Shane Warne, he is such an influential figure for the Rajasthan Royals, and has led the team to success in that first season, we will miss him dearly, but we know he is looking down on us with a lot of pride today. He made us believe,” Buttler said in the post-match presentation.

RR will look to go all the way in the tournament and go past the GT challenge in the final.