Featuring on the BBC Podcast The Doosra alongside his Rajasthan Royals teammate Robin Uthappa, Buttler termed the tournament the best in the world, hailing the unique match-ups that the league offers, owing to the mix of international stars playing on a common stage.

“There’s no doubt that it [the IPL] has helped English cricket and the numbers of players who have been involved in IPL in the last few years,” Buttler said. “IPL was always something I was desperate to play. For me it’s the best tournament in the world, I know the World Cup’s different, take that out because you’re playing for your country.

“English cricket has got quite an interesting history with it,” Buttler said. “Obviously, the documentary about Kevin Pietersen over the last year or so and how he wanted to get involved and the roadblocks he faced…”

“He did really pave the way for a lot of us to go and now play in the IPL, with more blessing then there used to be from English cricket. He is a pioneer for us, in the way he played and in building the steps in place to trust and realise just how important the IPL is for developing cricketers,” Buttler added.