Gujarat Titans’ run in the IPL 2026 final ended in disappointment as they were beaten by Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but the most talked-about moment came unusually early in Gujarat’s innings. A surprising promotion of youngster Nishant Sindhu ahead of Jos Buttler became a focal point of discussion, and Buttler later shed light on why it happened.
Key takeaways
- Nishant Sindhu was sent in at No. 3 after Gujarat lost Shubman Gill for 10 in the third over.
- Jos Buttler revealed the decision was driven by a tactical call from Gujarat head coach Ashish Nehra.
- Buttler said he was told to delay his arrival despite already getting ready to bat after the first wicket.
- Nishant contributed 20 runs before being dismissed in the eighth over, but Gujarat still struggled to build momentum.
- Gujarat finished with 155, and RCB chased it down comfortably to win a second straight IPL title.
Why Buttler was told to wait
Gujarat entered the final with the chance to lift a second IPL trophy after overcoming Rajasthan Royals in Qualifier 2. Yet they were up against a Royal Challengers Bengaluru side that had already beaten them in Qualifier 1 and proved just as strong on the grandest stage.
The Titans’ chase began to unravel quickly when captain Shubman Gill departed for 10 in the third over. With the innings needing steadiness, many expected Buttler to take the next step in the batting order at No. 3. Instead, Nishant Sindhu was promoted, a move that caught plenty of observers off guard.
Speaking on the “For The Love of Cricket” podcast, Buttler explained that he was preparing to walk out after the early wicket, only for Nehra to revise the plan. “When the first wicket fell, I stood up to put on my helmet. But Ashish Nehra told me to sit back down — they were going to bring Nishant in at 3,” Buttler said. He added that when he asked about it after the match, Nehra’s reasoning was that it felt reactive at that point and also gave Nishant a strong opportunity as a top-order batter.
Impact of the tactical call and Gujarat’s total
Despite the intention behind the strategy, the change didn’t end up delivering the desired outcome. Sai Sudharsan was dismissed soon after, which only heightened the pressure on Gujarat’s batting unit. Nishant managed 20 runs but was out in the eighth over, leaving the Titans still searching for rhythm as Buttler finally came in later.
Buttler also pointed out that the thinking behind the promotion was connected to how Nishant’s role had been limited at times earlier in the season. “He’s sometimes on that slippery slope where the team gets going, and then he ends up not batting or batting at 7. So it was a decision to get him in the game. He has batted ahead of me in another game against KKR. Right or wrong, it just didn’t work out for us,” he said.
With wickets coming at regular intervals, Buttler tried to steer the chase deeper, but he couldn’t provide the burst of scoring Gujarat required. He made 19 off 23 balls before being dismissed by Krunal Pandya.
Looking back on his own innings, Buttler said he was frustrated by how it played out. “When I did bat, I wanted to take it deep because we had lost a few wickets. I just never found the boundaries and got beaten by a good piece of bowling from a smart operator, Krunal Pandya. It’s disappointing when you go worse than a run-a-ball in an IPL final. It’s not a great look,” Buttler added.
Gujarat ultimately closed on 155, a score that never truly threatened RCB. The defending champions then completed a comfortable chase to secure their second consecutive IPL title, while the Titans were left assessing a final in which several key choices — including the early promotion of Nishant Sindhu — failed to produce the result they had been aiming for.
