Jos Buttler’s IPL Legacy Rivals Kohli, de Villiers, and Gayle: On Par with the Greatest
A year and a half ago, Jos Buttler spearheaded an impressive English performance at the T20 World Cup in Australia. Taking charge as captain, he emerged as the fourth highest run-scorer of the tournament, accumulating 225 runs. In the final match held in Melbourne, his team convincingly defeated Pakistan.
Buttler’s achievement as the third England captain to guide his team to a World Cup victory, following Paul Collingwood (2010, T20) and Eoin Morgan (2019, 50-over), is overshadowed by his notorious leadership during the recent 50-over World Cup in India. Here, England, the defending champions, suffered a humiliating exit during the league stage under his guidance.
If Buttler holds the belief, though there’s no evidence to support it, that he hasn’t received the recognition he deserves, it’s entirely justified. In a flashy and extravagant world, the 33-year-old from Taunton exemplifies quietly and efficiently carrying out his duties, achieving success despite challenges by focusing his belief elsewhere.
Buttler, a dominant force in modern T20 cricket, maintains a mostly traditional approach to his game. While he has the power to clear any boundary, he excels when he doesn’t overextend himself. He understands his game well and knows that frantic play rarely leads to success in the fast-paced T20 format.
During a recent match against Kolkata Knight Riders, Buttler appeared out of sorts, batting with a heavily strapped left thigh. His performance lacked the usual fluency and rhythm, especially in the early stages of the innings when he struggled to find his stride despite limited opportunities to score.
