Picture Credit: Twitter/IPL
Injuries are part and parcel of professional sport. However, there is always a bit of panic on the cricket field when the batter takes a blow on the helmet and it was no different on Saturday during the match between Rajasthan Royals and Mumbai Indians.
In only the fifth ball of the sixth over of the Rajasthan innings, MI's pacer Riley Meredith banged a ball short and while striker Jos Buttler seemed ready for it and decided to play the pull shot, he was rushed into it and the ball hit his helmet. Slow-motion replays confirmed that the stem guard of the helmet fell after the ball made an impact on the helmet but luckily it did not disturb the stumps.
Buttler was seen touching his temple and play had to be stopped for a while before the physio and a few of the other players made sure that the Englishman was alright.
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It wasn't a serious injury and Buttler was not only cleared to play but ended up scoring 67 runs off 52 deliveries including four consecutive sixes off Hrithik Shokeen. However, Buttler's effort and RR's eventual total of 158/6 did not prove to be enough as Mumbai Indians defeated the Men in Pink by 5 wickets to taste their first win of the season. MI's Surayakumar Yadav scored 51 off 39 deliveries and was adjudged the Player of the Match.
"My job at No. 3 was to take the game ahead from where Rohit left and very happy with the way things ended. It was a good one from the team's point of view. Losing so many games, that was an important win to have a good atmosphere amongst the team," Suryakumar said at the post-match presentation.
Mumbai will have a stern task ahead of themselves as they will be up against table-toppers Gujarat Titans in their next match on May 6.
