After costly mistakes in the field, Buttler roars back with an unbeaten 73* to power Gujarat Titans home.

Jos Buttler turned frustration into firepower as he guided Gujarat Titans to a dominant eight-wicket win over Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL. After a nightmare start behind the stumps, where he spilled two costly chances, the England star made amends with a blistering 73* off 39 balls, finishing the chase with 13 balls to spare.

Buttler, who relinquished England’s white-ball captaincy after a dismal Champions Trophy exit, admitted recent months had been “pretty unenjoyable.” His struggles continued early in the match when he dropped Phil Salt and missed a crucial stumping of Liam Livingstone, allowing RCB to recover to 169-8. But rather than crumble under pressure, he responded with a masterful innings, smashing five fours and six sixes to steer Gujarat to victory.

A Slow Start, Then Pure Destruction

Batting at No. 3, Buttler began cautiously, managing just nine runs from his first ten deliveries. Then came the explosion. A crunching pull for four was followed by two massive sixes—the first an audacious top-edge that sailed over the wicketkeeper. From that point, there was no stopping him.

He formed two key partnerships, first a 75-run stand with Sai Sudharsan before finishing the job alongside Sherfane Rutherford in an unbroken 63-run alliance. RCB’s bowlers, who had been so effective in their last two matches, had no answer to Buttler’s controlled aggression.

“I was pretty embarrassed,” Buttler admitted, referring to his earlier mistakes behind the stumps. “I barely got a glove on it—it hit me in the chest. Because of that embarrassment, I was determined to score some runs.”

RCB’s Resilience Not Enough

RCB had a horror start, collapsing to 42-4 inside seven overs as Mohammed Siraj (3-19) ripped through his former franchise’s top order. However, Livingstone led a fightback, overcoming a nervy start to hammer 54 off 40 balls, including one four and five sixes.

His innings might have ended much earlier—he was dropped on nine and then gifted another life when Buttler fumbled a stumping opportunity. Jitesh Sharma chipped in with 33 off 21, helping RCB post a competitive total despite Gujarat’s sloppy fielding.

However, their hopes of defending 169 were quickly shattered as Gujarat’s batters made light work of the chase. Buttler, who had already shown flashes of form with scores of 54 and 39 earlier in the tournament, ensured his team never wavered.

Buttler’s Revival and Gujarat’s Strength

This knock could mark a turning point for Buttler, who has struggled for consistency in recent months. England’s white-ball decline under his leadership saw them crash out of the Champions Trophy without a single win. Personally, he managed just one half-century in 11 international innings before returning to IPL action.

But against RCB, Buttler rediscovered his best—fearless, destructive, and relentless. “I was trying to play with lots of freedom and intent,” he said. The Titans will hope this form continues as they push for a top-four finish.

As for RCB, the defeat halts their winning run and exposes concerns over their top order. With two wins and two losses, they now face a crucial stretch in the tournament. But on a night that began with fumbles and frustration, the spotlight belonged to Buttler—the man who turned embarrassment into dominance.