Jos Buttler put an end to his lean run in T20s with a fluent half-century against Delhi Capitals on Wednesday. The experienced opener took charge early, lifting Gujarat Titans’ powerplay and went on to smash a 24-ball fifty that gave his side the advantage. The 35-year-old walked in during the powerplay after the early dismissal of in-form opener Sai Sudharsan, following Delhi’s decision to bowl first. He quickly turned the tide, taking on lead pacer Mukesh Kumar with three sixes in a single over to wrest back momentum.
Meanwhile, veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who played for Delhi Capitals in the past, suggested skipper Axar Patel should bring himself into the attack for the big match-up with Buttler when he was going berserk.
“Time for the Axar butler match up already! #IPL26,” Ashwin wrote on X.
Axar also thought the same on the field and came into the attack, but this time Buttler won the battle by smashing him for a four and a six straightaway. Ashwin didn’t wait much and reacted to Buttler’s onslaught on X.
“There were doubts over the Buttler, but he is serving it with style so far,” he added.
Jos Buttler ends lean patch
Meanwhile, it was Buttler’s first fifty of the season, ending a lean run in T20s that also included a quiet World Cup where he failed to reach a half-century. He looked in fine touch at Kotla on Wednesday, timing the ball well and playing with intent from the outset. Buttler smashed five sixes and three fours during his 27-ball 52, taking control of the innings and putting the bowlers under pressure. His knock, however, was cut short when Kuldeep Yadav outfoxed him, bringing an end to an otherwise fluent and impactful innings.
Earlier, Delhi Capitals skipper Axar Patel won the toss and elected to bowl against Gujarat Titans in an Indian Premier League match here on Wednesday.
DC went unchanged from the previous game, while GT brought in Kumar Kushagra and regular skipper Shubman Gill too returned to the playing 11 after missing the last match against Rajasthan Royals with a neck niggle.






