Buttler to leave extended IPL early for England duty

In a blow to the Gujarat Titans, the wicketkeeper will skip the playoffs should they get there, which seems highly likely because they top the 10-team table. Gujarat said that Buttler will be replaced by the Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis, who will make his debut in the IPL. The richest tournament in cricket was suspended last week because of a brief conflict between nuclear-armed neighbours India and Pakistan. Four days of drone, missile and artillery exchanges from May 7 left nearly 70 people, including dozens of civilians, dead on both sides.