Jos Buttler during a practice session.
| Photo Credit: PTI
Jos Buttler has been around long enough to know that form, like fortune, can be fleeting. And as the veteran England wicketkeeper-batter prepares to begin his Indian Premier League 2026 campaign with Gujarat Titans, he is drawing on experience rather than numbers to move past a disappointing ICC T20 World Cup.
Buttler endured a lean run in the global tournament, managing just 87 runs in eight innings at an average of 10.87 and a strike rate of 116. Yet, for the 35-year-old, the challenge heading into the IPL remains unchanged — irrespective of whether the runs have come or not.
Follow the IPL 2026 RCB vs SRH live updates
“Whether I have been scoring lots of runs coming into the IPL or struggling, it’s the same challenge,” Buttler said in a virtual interaction on Saturday (March 28, 2026). “Can you prepare well? Can you get in a good headspace and give yourself the best chance to perform? You need the energy to keep trying, keep putting yourself out there and keep preparing well.”
Buttler admitted he tried hard in the World Cup, but acknowledged that the nature of the game sometimes places outcomes beyond control.
“I put a lot of effort into that World Cup, and for a multitude of reasons, it just didn’t quite work out. There are elements of the game you can’t control, and everyone else is trying to do well too,” he said, stressing the importance of accepting setbacks and moving forward.
Having spent 15 years at the highest level, Buttler believes fluctuations in form are part and parcel of a long career. “I have had times where I’ve been in good form and times where things didn’t go to plan. You always reflect and analyse, but if there was one secret, everyone would score runs every time,” he noted.
Gujarat Titans will be hoping Buttler finds his silken touch against Punjab Kings in New Chandigarh on Tuesday (March 31, 2026).
Published – March 28, 2026 05:51 pm IST
