Jos Buttler has been a key figure in the Gujarat Titans’ (GT) impressive Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 campaign. However, the England wicketkeeper-batter will not take further part in the season as he will miss the playoffs due to national duty. Buttler will be linking up with the England team, which will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against the West Indies, scheduled from May 29 to June 10
Buttler finished his IPL 2025 campaign with 538 runs from 13 innings at an average of 59.78 and a strike rate of 163.04. He registered five half-centuries, including a highest score of 97 not out off 54 balls against Delhi Capitals. The 34-year-old was a part of the most consistent top three in the IPL this season. He batted at one down after Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, who are the top two in the list of leading run-getters this season.
GT’s Director of Cricket, Vikram Solanki, admitted that the middle-order hasn’t been tested as much because the troika of Gill, Sudharsan, and Buttler have done exceedingly well. However, the former England batter said that Buttler’s absence wouldn’t hurt them too much as cricket is a team sport.
“He’s not available for the playoffs. So, we will approach the game as a team. It’s not about one individual or three individuals, as you keep reminding me – they’ve had good seasons,” Solanki said in the post-match press conference after Gujarat lost to Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in their last game of the league phase on Sunday, May 25.
“I’m glad the top order has been scoring most of the runs. That’s a good thing. Yes, it means the middle order has sometimes not had the opportunity to bat. But when they have played, I think they’ve actually given a good account of themselves,” he added.
GT squandered a great opportunity to finish in the top two on the points table as they lost to CSK in front of their home fans by 83 runs. While Sudharsan scored 41, Gill and Buttler perished cheaply as GT were bowled out for 147 in pursuit of a 231-run target.
GT mates celebrate Sudharsan’s Test call-up with cake facial
Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis has been brought in as Buttler’s replacement for the playoffs. Gujarat still have a chance to finish second if Lucknow Super Giants beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru on Tuesday, May 27.
