Gujarat Titans Coach Optimistic About Jos Buttler's Comeback Ahead of IPL Clash
Aashish Kapoor Expresses Confidence in Jos Buttler
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India] - As the Gujarat Titans prepare for their upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) match against the Rajasthan Royals, assistant coach Aashish Kapoor has expressed his support for struggling English batsman Jos Buttler. Kapoor believes that such slumps are common among elite players and is confident that Buttler is on the verge of regaining his form.
Buttler, who managed a modest 38 runs off 33 balls in the season opener against Punjab Kings, is looking to bounce back against his previous team. His performance in the recent ICC T20 World Cup was disappointing, with only 87 runs across eight innings, averaging 10.87 and a top score of 26.
During a press conference, Kapoor remarked that it often takes just one good innings for players like Buttler to rediscover their rhythm, citing the struggles faced by cricket legends Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli during their careers.
“He is undoubtedly a top player. Everyone goes through rough patches, and it’s not uncommon for even the best, like Sachin and Virat, to experience such phases. However, they always find their way back. For players of his caliber, it often just takes one innings to turn things around,” he stated.
Kapoor noted that Buttler showed determination in his last match, emphasizing the pride he takes in his performances. The coach believes Buttler is eager to prove himself once again.
“You could see his effort in the last game; he was trying hard to make a statement and return to form. I believe he is on the right track,” Kapoor concluded.
Last season, Buttler scored 538 runs in 13 innings for the Titans, following a successful stint with the Royals from 2018 to 2024. He averaged 59.77 with a strike rate exceeding 163, including five half-centuries. Over his IPL career, Buttler has accumulated 4,158 runs in 122 matches, averaging 39.98 with a strike rate close to 149, featuring seven centuries and 24 fifties, with a highest score of 124.
Squads:
Gujarat Titans Squad: Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill(c), Jos Buttler(w), Glenn Phillips, Washington Sundar, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Kagiso Rabada, Ashok Sharma, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Jason Holder, Jayant Yadav, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Ishant Sharma, Luke Wood, Tom Banton, Kulwant Khejroliya, Anuj Rawat, Arshad Khan, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu.
Rajasthan Royals Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Dhruv Jurel(w), Riyan Parag(c), Shimron Hetmyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Jofra Archer, Nandre Burger, Sandeep Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Brijesh Sharma, Donovan Ferreira, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Ravi Singh, Sushant Mishra, Tushar Deshpande, Adam Milne, Dasun Shanaka, Kuldeep Sen, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Shubham Dubey, Kwena Maphaka, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao Perala.