London: England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler is hoping to draw inspiration from Virat Kohli and use the IPL experience to earn his maiden Test ton during the five-Test series against India starting, Wednesday.
“Someone like Virat is an immensely talented guy but also watching him go about it you see that mentality of getting to the top. They seem to make the right decision a lot of the time. That is a skill,” he told reporters at The Oval. “The hunger to do it day in day out…that hunger really shines through in those top players,” he added.
Buttler played for the Rajasthan Royals during this year’s IPL scoring 548 runs at an average of 54.80 with the help of five half centuries including two unbeaten 90s.
“The biggest thing I have learnt from the IPL is that it’s obvious what the best players do and why they are the best players and standouts,” said Buttler.
I have good memories against India but it is about reinforcing the enjoyment factor and the incredible opportunity to play Test cricket
Jos Buttler
“They just have a different mentality, a winning mentality in every game and the consistency to do that. I feel like I have learnt a lot from watching guys train and go about their practice, ways they react to certain pressure moments in a game as well,” he added.
Riding on his imperious form at the IPL, Buttler made a successful return to Test cricket, scoring back-to-back fifties, during the recent 1-1 drawn home campaign with Pakistan.
Buttler’s highest Test score is 85 that he made on debut against India four years ago and he would look to reach his maiden three-digit figure in this series which begins with the first Test at Edgbaston.
“It is the ultimate aim, I would love to achieve that feat,” the 27-year-old said. “For those two games against Pakistan, I was not sure how it would go but I approached them in a great manner and it is important for me to do that going into this series,” he added.