Jos Buttler says he’s found his rhythm again after a tough stretch at the T20 World Cup, where his batting struggled to click. The England batter credited a return to form to focused work with former Australia opener Matthew Hayden and a decision to step back from the game to reset. In Sunday’s IPL match, his controlled knock, backed by seamer Prasidh Krishna’s disciplined bowling, helped Gujarat Titans move past Lucknow Super Giants in a comfortable win.
Quick facts
- Match: Gujarat Titans vs Lucknow Super Giants (IPL, Sunday)
- Player of the Match: Jos Buttler
- LSG score: 164/8
- Key knocks: Shubman Gill 56 off 40 balls; Jos Buttler half-centuries
- Bowling stand-out: Prasidh Krishna led the effort
At the presentation, Buttler was asked about the sessions with Hayden. He explained that early in the coaching process Hayden asked a simple question—how well Buttler was watching the ball—and challenged him when it wasn’t being tracked properly. Buttler said it was the kind of straightforward guidance from a player of Hayden’s calibre that makes a difference, adding that he genuinely enjoyed the time spent learning from him.
Buttler also highlighted Hayden’s presence and the “aura” he carries, saying when the former opener speaks, you listen. For Buttler, the benefit wasn’t just technical; it came with clarity on what to focus on during the crucial moments of batting.
Buttler’s World Cup reset
The batter then looked back at his disappointing 2026 T20 World Cup, admitting that his form faltered badly, finishing with 87 runs across eight innings and contributing to England’s early exit. He described the lean period as something that had lingered, and said it felt good to start scoring again and to play a role in another victory.
Buttler said a break from the sport gave him space to think, and that the improvement began to surface. He added that during his weeks with the group he worked heavily on his setup and the basics, believing that technical issues may have crept into his game and affected the way he was reading the ball early.
He stressed that T20 cricket is unforgiving if you aren’t picking up the ball well, and outlined his approach: focus on everything before the delivery, then trust what he has prepared. Buttler also pointed to his experience, saying that after 15 years of playing, he knows what to do once he’s in at the crease. He added that having his family around helped too, because the high-intensity environment can be busy and the presence of loved ones creates welcome distractions away from match pressures.
For Gujarat Titans, Shubman Gill set the tone with a knock of 56 off 40 balls as the team secured their second successive win. Their chase was built on the foundation laid by their bowlers, who restricted Lucknow Super Giants to 164 for eight.
Gill praises Titans’ bowling
Gill said the bowling during the powerplay was impressive, and that the side did a strong job of maintaining pressure in the middle overs. He reserved special praise for Rashid Khan, explaining that Rashid’s current form makes life easier for the captain and the bowling unit because he repeatedly brings the match back under control whenever another bowler faces pressure.
Gill also assessed Mohammed Siraj’s impact, noting that it’s hard to execute the simple details in the first six overs, but that Siraj returned to the basics and bowled with intent. Even when KG—Kagiso Rabada—went for runs, Gill said he was still accurate with his lengths.
On the pitch, Gill felt it wasn’t easy to bat on and suggested that Gujarat Titans conceded a few extra runs towards the end, though they would have taken the total regardless. He framed the overall bowling plan as the difference-maker in keeping Lucknow from getting away.
Lucknow captain Rishabh Pant, meanwhile, believed his team hadn’t posted enough runs after opting to bat first. He acknowledged that Gujarat bowled well, but said that on a wicket like this, a total around 170 to 180 is typically a strong enough target.
Pant added that the wickets kept falling at key times and that pressure from the Titans ensured Lucknow couldn’t settle. He also mentioned that there were opportunities in the innings, but they weren’t taken effectively.
On the batting lineup, Pant said it was a great group of players, while also pointing out that the tournament had only just started. He said the team wasn’t trying to burden the players with pressure, especially the senior members, because they already know what needs to be done.
