England’s national cricket team white-ball captain Jos Buttler has hinted that there is no certainty regarding the return of test captain Ben Stokes and star Batsman Joe Root to the ODI squad for the upcoming Champions Trophy, which is set to take place in just two months. Both players haven’t featured in ODI cricket since England’s disappointing campaign in the 2023 World Cup, where they finished seventh.

There had been rising speculation about the potential return of the two stars, especially after Brendon McCullum, England’s red-ball coach, was handed control of the white-ball team, replacing Matthew Mott. However, Buttler has made it clear that their return is far from confirmed. At the same time, he remains hopeful that both players have ambitions to be part of the white-ball setup.

When asked about Stokes and Root's possible return after the recent washout in St. Lucia, Buttler said, “I don’t know exactly. Obviously, Brendon McCullum is coming in full-time and he'll be in touch with the guys. It's conversations for the next few weeks with the guys in charge. The guys here have played really well. Some of the young players have done themselves no harm at all. There are people who aren't here who will have aspirations to be in the white-ball side as well.”

Ben Stokes had initially retired from ODI cricket before making a comeback for the 2023 World Cup. After the tournament, he expressed his willingness to return for another ICC event if McCullum requested it. Joe Root, on the other hand, hasn’t played an ODI since the World Cup and was not part of England's recent tour of the West Indies, with Test cricket taking priority.

Buttler emphasized his respect for the two Test cricket stars, stating, "I can’t speak for them individually but I hope they have white-ball aspirations – they’re two great players. But I don't know exactly. Obviously, Brendon McCullum is coming in full-time and he'll be in touch with the guys."