Jos Buttler snapped a frustrating stretch in T20 cricket with a classy display against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday, steering Gujarat Titans with a quick, fluent half-century that swung the contest early. The experienced top-order batter arrived in the powerplay after Gujarat lost Sai Sudharsan, who had been in good form, and he wasted little time settling in. With Delhi choosing to bowl first, Buttler immediately lifted the tempo—powering the Titans’ early overs and then hammering a 24-ball fifty to put his side in a commanding position. As the innings gathered momentum, Buttler also struck a decisive blow against Mukesh Kumar, smashing three sixes in the same over to wrest momentum back for Gujarat.
While Buttler was busy taking on the bowlers, Ravichandran Ashwin—who has previously featured for Delhi Capitals—added his voice to the matchup debate involving the Titans captain and the English opener. Ashwin suggested that Axar Patel should be brought into the attack for the contest against Buttler when the right-hander was finding rhythm, writing on X: “Time for the Axar butler match up already! #IPL26.” Axar appeared to agree with the idea, but the plan didn’t last long as Buttler still managed to win that duel on the spot, immediately hitting Axar for a boundary and a six in consecutive deliveries. Ashwin then responded again to Buttler’s assault, noting: “There were doubts over the Buttler, but he is serving it with style so far.”
The discussion on social media continued after that, with a fan posting that Buttler had dominated Axar in earlier encounters. Ashwin quickly pushed back by pointing to evidence from past meetings, adding: “Guess these were Ian Gareth Buttler. Data can show anything, the person putting it together wants to show.” In that exchange, Ashwin shared screenshots to underline that Delhi’s star had, at times, come out on top of the English batter in prior matchups.
For Buttler personally, this knock mattered as much as it looked. It was his first fifty of the season and it brought an end to a lean phase in T20 cricket that had also included a subdued World Cup, where he failed to reach a half-century. At Kotla on Wednesday, his timing was sharp and his intent clear from the first overs. He struck five sixes and three fours in his 27-ball 52, keeping the required rate under control while repeatedly forcing Delhi’s bowlers onto the back foot. The only downside was that his impressive innings was cut short when Kuldeep Yadav outfoxed him, ending what had been a fluent and high-impact spell at the crease.
Earlier in the day, Delhi Capitals captain Axar Patel won the toss and chose to bowl first against Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League fixture at the venue. Delhi made no changes from the previous match, while Gujarat introduced Kumar Kushagra into the playing XI. Regular skipper Shubman Gill also returned to the team after missing the most recent game against Rajasthan Royals due to a neck niggle.
