Jos Buttler Reflects on IPL Final Loss Against RCB

In a recent podcast, Jos Buttler opened up about the Gujarat Titans' disappointing loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL final. He discussed the strategic decision to change his batting position and the impact it had on the team's performance. Buttler's insights reveal the challenges faced during the match and reflect on his experiences in previous finals. This article delves into his thoughts on the game and the decisions made by the team management, providing a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play during this high-stakes encounter.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 3, 2026, 23:09 IST

Buttler Discusses Gujarat Titans' Defeat

Jos Buttler shared his thoughts on the Gujarat Titans' loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the 2026 Indian Premier League final, which took place on May 31 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. The English cricket star addressed the shift in his batting order as the team faced a batting collapse during the crucial match.

Buttler, who typically batted at number three throughout the tournament, was moved to the fourth position after Shubman Gill was dismissed by Josh Hazelwood in the second over. Nishant Sindhu took the number three spot, a decision that surprised many since the uncapped Indian player had not previously batted in that position during his IPL career.

Buttler recounted that he was ready to bat when Ashish Nehra instructed him to remain seated. Ultimately, he scored only 19 runs off 23 balls before being dismissed by Krunal Pandya, contributing to the Titans' total of just 155 runs. "When the first wicket fell, I was gearing up to bat, but Ashish Nehra told me to sit back down and let Nishant take the number three spot. I later asked him about it, and he mentioned it felt like a reactive decision to give Nishant a chance as a top-order batter," Buttler explained on the For The Love of Cricket Podcast with Stuart Broad.

He added, "Nishant has sometimes found himself in situations where he hasn't batted much or has come in lower down the order. The idea was to get him involved early. He had batted ahead of me in a previous match against KKR. Whether it was the right call or not, it just didn’t pan out for us this time." This marked Buttler's second appearance in an IPL final, with both resulting in defeats. He was a standout player when Rajasthan Royals reached the final in 2022 but lost to the Titans. Previously, he was part of the Mumbai Indians team that won the trophy in 2017, although he did not play in the final due to international commitments.