The IPL always throws up moments that remind everyone why this tournament never gets boring. The clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Arun Jaitley Stadium delivered exactly that. But more than anything, it belonged to Jos Buttler, who reminded everyone of his class when it mattered the most.
Buttler’s innings was a statement of intent. He didn’t ease into it. He attacked from the first ball and looked confident throughout. He smashed 52 runs off just 27 deliveries at a strike rate of 192.59. That number itself tells the story. This was not just a half-century. This was a message.
Jos Buttler reveals unique trick to regain his form
After the match, Buttler shared something interesting. It was simple, but it says a lot about how players deal with pressure and poor form. “Change of shoes. That’s actually throughout the years. If I can’t score runs, I change my shoes. So these are doing well so far,” Buttler said with a smile during the post-match presentation.
It sounds funny at first. Changing shoes to get runs? But in cricket, confidence is everything. Sometimes players don’t need technical changes. They just need a mental reset. This feels like one of those tricks. It gives a fresh feeling. It breaks the negative pattern.
And honestly, if it works, it works. There is no rulebook for getting back into form. Every player finds their own way. Buttler found his. He had gone through a tough phase before this. Sixteen innings without a fifty is not something you expect from a player like Buttler. It was clear he was searching for rhythm. But in this match, everything clicked. The timing came back. The confidence returned. The fear was gone.
During the powerplay, he completely took control. He hit five sixes in the first six overs, which is serious dominance. One over against Mukesh Kumar changed the game. Buttler smashed 23 runs in that over, including three massive sixes. That was the moment Gujarat Titans grabbed the momentum and never really let it go.
He also reached a major milestone in the process. Buttler became the first non-West Indian batter to hit 600 sixes in T20 cricket. That shows how consistent and dangerous he has been over the years. This was not a one-off performance. This was a reminder of what he does regularly when he is at his best.
What stands out even more is that Buttler didn’t stop with the bat. He made a match-winning impact behind the stumps too. That shows his overall value to the team. The match went down to the last ball. Delhi Capitals needed two runs. Prasidh Krishna bowled the final delivery to David Miller. Miller missed it. That’s where the real drama started.
The batters tried to steal a bye. It looked possible for a moment. But Buttler stayed calm. He collected the ball cleanly and hit the stumps with a sharp underarm throw. Kuldeep Yadav fell short of the crease. That was the game. The Gujarat Titans won by one run. Moments like this show the difference between a good player and a great one. Buttler stayed switched on till the very end. He didn’t relax for a second.
Jos Buttler has accumulated 116 runs in 3 matches at an average of 38.67 and a strike rate of 156.76. He will be looking forward to showcasing his mettle in the upcoming clash against Lucknow Super Giants on April 12, Sunday, at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.
