IPL 2026: Jos Buttler finds form with fifty for Gujarat Titans against Delhi Capitals
England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler found form in the Indian Premier League before winning the Gujarat Titans game with a last-ball run-out in a remarkable one-over victory over Delhi Capitals.
Buttler, who went 18 innings without scoring a fifty, including his difficult run in the T20 World Cup, looked closer to his best form as he hit 52 off 27 balls in Gujarat’s 210-4.
He hit five sixes, including a distinctive scoop and a towering six at long-on, before being dismissed in the eighth over.
But his impact was not made here as Kuldeep Yadav ran down the goal with an underarm effort from the goalkeeper position; India spinner David Miller attempted a single off the last ball with two runs to spare.
South Africa international Miller cleared the ropes again in the final over after hitting two sixes and two fours in the 19th over, but turned away a single with two balls remaining and then missed seamer Prasidh Krishna’s bouncer while finishing.
Upset Miller completed 41 off 20 balls, while opener KL Rahul made 92 off balls.
“Amazing,” Buttler said. “It’s great to win. It was a very lucky shot but I’m very happy.
“We desperately needed a win and I’m glad we managed to sneak through.”
Buttler’s fifty was his first in the formats since ’97, which did not feature in SA20 at the beginning of January.
He averaged 10.9 in eight matches in the T20 World Cup and scored 38 from 33 balls and 26 from 14 balls in his previous innings in this year’s IPL.
Here his first run came with a six at long-on and he followed it up with a four off Indian spinner Axar Patel at extra cover and another six at long off.
He then scooped and drove seamer Mukesh Kumar as Gujarat scored 63 from their first five overs. India Test captain Shubman Gill also scored 70 off 45 balls, while all-rounder Washington Sundar scored 55 off 32 balls.
“I called [runs] A little bit, but I’ve felt in good touch since I’ve been here,” Buttler said.
“I played long enough to know it would come back at some point.”
The former England captain was hit by a low slip ball from Kuldeep, but the strike marked an encouraging comeback for one of England’s greatest white-ball players whose place in the national team came under scrutiny during the World Cup.
His tournament featured five single-figure scoring runs but England stuck with him throughout their run to the semi-finals.
After the IPL, Buttler will play for Lancashire in the T20 Blast before England’s first white-ball matches of the summer against India in July.
England’s focus will shift to the 50-over format this summer, with the one-day international World Cup to be held in autumn 2027.
Buttler hasn’t scored over 50 points since February 2023. He averaged 17.9 in 30 international appearances across formats this winter.
