IPL 2025: Jos Buttler falls three runs short of equalling Virat Kohli’s record

Dubai: Under a 40-degree furnace in Ahmedabad, Jos Buttler kept his cool. With gloves on for 20 overs and bat in hand for another 54 balls, the England star crafted a near-perfect 97 not out to take Gujarat Titans to the top of the Indian Premier League table, chasing down 204 with four balls to spare.

Buttler’s innings, laced with 11 fours and four sixes, was a masterclass in timing and temperament. It came at the end of a scorching day where he’d already put in a full shift behind the stumps — gloving two catches before returning to orchestrate Gujarat’s seven-wicket win over Delhi Capitals.

Wicketkeeper-batter Buttler and impact substitute Sherfane Rutherford put on a match-turning 119-run partnership that turned Delhi’s imposing total into a footnote. Rutherford, the left-handed West Indian, played the aggressor with a 27-ball 43 that included three sixes, allowing Buttler to bat deep and finish the job.

“Magnificent the way Sherfane and Buttler rotated the strike and those hits were tremendous,” said Gujarat captain Shubman Gill. “Their partnership wasn’t just brutal hitting, it was very calculated batting.”

Rutherford departed in the 19th over, leaving Delhi’s Mitchell Starc to defend 10 off the final six balls. Rahul Tewatia, ice in his veins as usual, sealed the win with a six and a four.

This was Buttler’s third half-century of the season, and had he managed three more runs, he would have equalled Virat Kohli’s record of eight IPL centuries. Still, the innings was among his finest — especially given the conditions and context.

“Really pleased with the two points and winning the game,” Buttler said. “It was a beautiful wicket to bat on. Just wanted to bat deep and pick my moments to attack. The heat takes you by surprise — it’s draining. I was cramping up a bit, but that’s part of the game: to be fit and perform under pressure.”

Earlier, Gujarat won the toss and elected to field. Delhi responded with 203-8, anchored by skipper Axar Patel’s 39. Tristan Stubbs added 31, and Ashutosh Sharma smashed 37 late on. But they struggled to maintain momentum as Gujarat’s Prasidh Krishna struck repeatedly.

Krishna removed KL Rahul with a searing yorker and then dismissed Karun Nair, Axar Patel, and Vipraj Nigam to finish with 4-34. He now leads the tournament with 14 wickets.

Veteran seamer Ishant Sharma bowled just three overs across two spells, clearly struggling with the conditions. He was eventually subbed out after returning briefly, ending with figures of 1-19.

Gujarat’s chase had a jittery start when Gill was run out for 7 in the second over following a sharp direct hit from Nair. But Sai Sudharsan (36) combined with Buttler for a composed 60-run stand to settle nerves before Kuldeep Yadav broke through.

From there, it was the Buttler-Rutherford show. The pair paced the innings with experience and power, setting up the chase with ease despite the draining conditions.

This wasn’t just about runs — it was about resilience. Buttler didn’t just win the game with the bat; he outlasted the heat, the pressure, and a fired-up Delhi bowling attack. His poise sent a clear message to the rest of the league. In the IPL cauldron, cool heads win games.