Jos Buttler may be going through a lean patch, but Gujarat Titans assistant coach Aashish Kapoor believes the England star is just one innings away from rediscovering his best. Backing the experienced opener, Kapoor stressed that players of Buttler’s calibre inevitably bounce back, even after difficult phases.

Buttler’s recent form has come under scrutiny following a disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, where he managed just 87 runs in eight innings. He has also had a slow start to IPL 2026, scoring 38 off 33 balls in GT’s opening loss to Punjab Kings. Speaking ahead of their clash against Rajasthan Royals, Kapoor expressed confidence in Buttler’s ability to turn things around.

“He’s a top player, and there’s no doubt about it. I don’t think you people doubt that either. Yeah, he had a bad 1–1.5 months, which can happen to any player, and has happened to most top-class players, including Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli, who had such patches. But these players always come back,”

“Now, he must be really eager because such players have great pride in themselves to do well. You could see the way he batted in the last match as well, trying to apply himself and wanting to make a statement that he’s back in form. It’s a matter of one inning for such players to return to form, and I think he’s on the right path, so it shouldn’t be a problem,”

Buttler’s struggles come despite his stature in white-ball cricket. He remains England’s highest run-getter in T20Is, with 4037 runs in 155 matches, and was a key figure for Gujarat Titans last season, scoring 538 runs in 14 matches during IPL 2025.

With GT set to face Rajasthan Royals, the spotlight will once again be on Buttler to deliver. Rajasthan come into the game with momentum after a commanding win over Chennai Super Kings, while Gujarat will be keen to bounce back after their opening defeat.

HOW BUTTLER CAN REVIVE HIS FORM IN IPL 2026

For Buttler, IPL 2026 presents more than just another tournament. It is an opportunity to reset after a difficult international stretch and reaffirm his place as one of the leading white-ball batters in the game.

A strong IPL could not only help him regain confidence but also strengthen his position in England’s T20 setup going forward. As Kapoor pointed out, players of Buttler’s pedigree often need just one defining innings to shift momentum, and with the tournament still in its early stages, time remains firmly on his side.

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