Jos Buttler gives India the 'favourites' tag for T20 World Cup 2021

Ahead of the five-match T20I series against India, England wicketkeeper-batsman Jos Buttler has said the Men in Blue are favourites for this year’s T20 World Cup. India will host the marquee event in October and November this year as they look to win their first ICC trophy since winning the Champions Trophy in 2013.

The Men in Blue have also not won the T20 World Cup for more than a decade. Their first and last triumph in the competition till date came in the inaugural edition in 2007. India have done well in the tournament in the last couple of editions but failed to deliver in the knockout games. In the 2014 T20 World Cup, the Men in Blue made it to the final where they lost to Sri Lanka.

Two years later, India hosted the tournament and lost the semi-final to eventual winners West Indies. And as India eye their second T20 World Cup, Buttler believes they are the favourites for this year’s tournament. The England star pointed out the host country’s fine record in ICC tournaments in recent years before giving India the favourites tag.

‘India are of course phenomenally strong in every format’ – Jos Buttler

Interestingly, no hosting country has won the T20 World Cup so far. But the last three 50-over World Cups have been won by the hosting countries. Incidentally, it was India who became the first host country to win the ODI World Cup in 2011. Buttler also said that playing the T20I series in Ahmedabad will benefit England in this year’s T20 World Cup.

“Previous World Cups have shown that host nations tend to perform very well and India are of course phenomenally strong in every format. It’s great exposure for us to play against one of the best teams in the tournament in these conditions. And it’s a huge benefit to us playing in Ahmedabad, a brand new stadium which will play a big part in the World Cup,” said Jos Buttler as quoted by BBC.

Meanwhile, Buttler and his teammates will be looking to bounce back after the humiliating 1-3 defeat in the Test series. He was a part of the first Test that England won by 227 runs before being rested for the remaining three games. The T20I series will start on Friday (March 12).