Gujarat Titans Sign Kusal Mendis as Jos Buttler's Replacement for IPL 2025 Playoffs

Gujarat Titans Secure Kusal Mendis

The Gujarat Titans have enlisted Sri Lankan wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis to step in for Jos Buttler ahead of the IPL 2025 playoffs, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.

Buttler, a key player in the Titans' successful season thus far, will be unavailable for the playoffs due to his commitment to the England ODI team, which is set to face the West Indies starting May 29—the same day the IPL playoffs commence.

Mendis, who recently played for the Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), last took the field on May 7. Although he served as a wicketkeeper-batter in the PSL, he opted not to return to Pakistan for the remainder of the season, reportedly due to safety concerns. Instead, he will join the Gujarat Titans and make his IPL debut.

Currently, the Titans have two wicketkeepers on their roster—Anuj Rawat and Kumar Kushagra—but Mendis brings international experience and recent form to the team. He scored 143 runs at a strike rate of 168 across five matches in this year's PSL.

On the international stage, Mendis has participated in 78 T20Is for Sri Lanka, amassing 1,920 runs with an average of 25.60 and a strike rate of 131.68, including 15 scores of fifty or more.

This decision to bring in Mendis comes after the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) restricted English players' participation in the IPL until May 25, the originally scheduled date for the IPL final, by issuing the necessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs).

The Titans will feel the absence of Buttler significantly, as he has been in exceptional form this season. In 11 innings, he has scored 500 runs with an impressive average of 71.43 and a strike rate of 163.93, playing a crucial role in the team's top position on the points table with eight victories and three losses from 11 matches.

Gujarat Titans are set to face the Delhi Capitals on May 18 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, aiming to maintain their strong performance as they head into the playoffs.