Reports: Rajasthan Royals set to offer Jos Buttler multi-year contract

The inaugural Indian Premier League (IPL) champions Rajasthan Royals are reportedly looking to offer England's white-ball skipper Jos Buttler a multi-year contract in an attempt to tie him down. Buttler, who represents Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, is undoubtedly a fan favourite.

The potential reason behind this contract is Buttler's ability to win games single-handedly with the bat in hand and something that the franchise has already got a taste of during the Indian Premier League 2022 (IPL 2022).

A recent report by The Telegraph states that Rajasthan Royals are seriously considering offering the lucrative contract to Buttler. However, only time will tell how the situation plays out in the future and whether or not Buttler accepts the contract, given that he is offered one. 

Furthermore, Buttler is not the only player who has been reportedly offered such a contract. As reported by the Daily Mail earlier, star English pacer Jofra Archer was reportedly in the fray to sign a similar contract with the five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians as well.

However, signing a franchise cricket contract comes with a downside, which is possibly giving up on the national team's contract. If a player signs a permanent contract with a cricket franchise, then the national team’s board would have to seek permission from the franchise to gain the player’s services for international duty.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is currently in a battle to stave off players from joining franchises on multi-year contracts. The ECB is reportedly offering multi-year contracts to the players with an increased match fee as well in an attempt to get them to stay.

However, it could prove quite tough to stop the players from signing contracts with various franchises, as it helps them prolong their careers. Considering that the players will not play as many Test matches, focusing on white-ball cricket for yearly tournaments could help them stay in shape and even give them more flexibility in representing their respective countries during the major ICC tournaments.