Jos Buttler’s services will no longer be available for Rajasthan Royals at the IPL this year. The dashing opener, easily the team’s best performer for the last couple of seasons, has left for England to attend the birth of his first child.

Buttler was due to leave later this month, but he has had to make changes in the plan after his wife Louise was admitted in the hospital sooner than expected. The Hindu has learnt the England opener had expressed willingness to stay back if the team management wanted him for Saturday’s home match against Mumbai Indians.

Buttler’s absence is a big blow to the Royals, no doubt. He has been their leading scorer with 311 runs, with an average of 38.87 and a strike rate of 151.7.

And it was Buttler who had led the team to the playoff last year, scoring five fifties in a row. He had to leave the team early last year too, because of national duty. And the Royals badly missed him in the knock-out stage.

They soon would also have to deal with the absence of two other England players, with Jofra Archer, their bowling spearhead, and all-rounder Ben Stokes. The duo is scheduled to leave on April 23, but would be available for the matches against Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals.