Jos Buttler's Stellar Performance Leads Gujarat Titans to Victory Over Delhi Capitals

Buttler Shines in Gujarat Titans' Win

Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], April 19: After a remarkable performance against Delhi Capitals (DC), Gujarat Titans (GT) wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, who narrowly missed a century, advised teammate Rahul Tewatia to focus on winning rather than his personal milestone.

Buttler emerged as a key player for GT this season, achieving his third fifty in just seven matches. His explosive partnership with Sherfane Rutherford propelled GT to their fifth victory of the season, defeating DC by seven wickets on Saturday.

In the post-match presentation, Buttler expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I’m really happy with the two points. The pitch was excellent for batting; our goal was to extend our innings and choose the right moments to attack. We formed some solid partnerships. I told Rahul not to stress about my score; winning is what matters. He has consistently found the boundary from the first ball over the years.”

He also praised Rutherford for his impressive six-hitting ability, noting, “His sixes off Mohit shifted the game's momentum.”

Regarding his experience with cramps during the match, Buttler remarked, “It’s quite hot; I was surprised by how much hydration is needed and how exhausting it can be. Cramping is part of the game, and you must stay fit to perform under pressure and heat. As for my diving catch, I had underperformed in the first six games, so I was determined to improve. It’s always rewarding to hold onto a catch like that.”

So far in the tournament, Buttler has accumulated 315 runs across seven innings, boasting an average of 63.00 and a strike rate of 164.06, including three half-centuries, with his highest score being 97*.

GT won the toss and opted to bowl first. A rapid start from Karun Nair (31 off 18 balls, including two fours and two sixes) and KL Rahul (28 off 14 balls, with four boundaries and a six), along with a half-century partnership between Axar Patel (39 off 32 balls, with a four and two sixes) and Tristan Stubbs (who hit two fours and a six), helped DC reach 203/8 in their 20 overs, aided by a strong finish from Ashutosh Sharma (37 off 19 balls, with two fours and three sixes).

Prasidh Krishna was the standout bowler for GT, taking 4 wickets for 41 runs, while Mohammed Siraj, Arshad Khan, Ishant Sharma, and Sai Kishore each claimed a wicket.

During the chase, GT lost their captain Shubman Gill early on. However, Jos Buttler (97* off 54 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes) along with partnerships with Sai Sudharsan (36 off 21 balls, with five fours and a six) and Sherfane Rutherford (43 off 34 balls, with a four and three sixes) led GT to a seven-wicket victory with four balls remaining.

Buttler was awarded the 'Player of the Match' for his outstanding performance.

With this win, GT has secured their position at the top of the points table, pushing DC down to second place after their second defeat.