Jos Buttler’s comeback story has moved from international heartbreak to IPL momentum. After a tense T20 World Cup in which he failed to find a fifty in 16 innings, questions followed his future in the format. But in IPL action at Feroz Shah Kotla, Buttler delivered a brilliant 52 off 27, lifting the mood around Gujarat and ending a Delhi drought in emphatic fashion. England’s campaign had ended in the semi-finals, and Buttler endured a difficult tournament, yet his power-hitting now looks like it has switched on again—this time in Gujarat colours rather than the red rose.
Buttler’s burst against Delhi
- With a day to go for the match, Gujarat opener Sai Sudharsan said Buttler was the closest to a return to top form.
- Within 24 hours, Buttler made sure the talk turned into impact, taking control of the contest against Delhi.
- Gujarat lost Sudharsan early, but Buttler responded immediately by overturning the pressure and driving the innings forward.
- He struck a 24-ball fifty, finishing on 52 from 27 deliveries, with his innings packed with three fours and five sixes.
- Buttler and captain Shubman Gill built a 60-run partnership, setting a platform that kept Delhi on the back foot.
- During the 5th over, Buttler hammered Delhi pacer Mukesh Kumar for three big sixes, underlining how quickly the game swung in Gujarat’s favour.
- His explosiveness also produced a major milestone: Buttler became the first non-West Indies batter to reach 600 T20 sixes.
That milestone puts Buttler in an elite bracket alongside the likes of Chris Gayle, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell and Nicholas Pooran. Meanwhile, Gill watched from the other end as Buttler displayed the full range of his strokeplay at Feroz Shah Kotla, with the home crowd applauding the audacity and timing of his hitting.
Buttler’s numbers in the format further reinforce his reputation: he has recorded 99 T20 half-centuries across 496 matches and has nearly 14,000 runs at a strike rate above 146. For Gujarat Titans, who were heading into the game without a win, the timing of his return to form couldn’t be better—offering both immediate impetus and a clear message that one of their most dangerous weapons is firing again.
