4 April 2026 Ahmedabad: Ahead of the Indian Premier League (IPL) clash between Gujarat Titans and Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans’ assistant coach Ashish Kapoor expressed strong support for struggling English batter Jos Buttler, stating that a return to form is just “one innings away” for players of his caliber.
Kapoor emphasized that even legendary players like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have endured rough patches during their illustrious careers, but always made strong comebacks.
“He is a top player, there is no doubt. A bad phase of one or one-and-a-half months can happen to anyone. Even greats like Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli have gone through such periods. For players like Buttler, it’s just a matter of one innings,” Kapoor said.
Buttler, who scored 38 off 33 balls in the opening match against Punjab Kings, will be aiming to deliver a strong performance against his former franchise. His recent outing in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was underwhelming, where he managed only 87 runs in eight innings at an average of 10.87, with a highest score of 26.
However, Kapoor noted signs of improvement in Buttler’s recent performance and expressed confidence in his comeback.
“You could see the way he batted in the last match. For players like him, getting back into form is just one innings away. I believe he is on the right track,” he added.
Last season, Buttler had an impressive run, scoring 538 runs in 13 innings at an average of 59.77 and a strike rate above 163, including five half-centuries. Overall, in 122 IPL matches, he has scored 4,158 runs at an average of nearly 40, with seven centuries and 24 fifties.
Rajasthan Royals Confident; Impact Player Rule “Not New,” Said Vikram Rathor
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals’ batting coach Vikram Rathor expressed confidence in his team’s momentum after a winning start to the season.
“We began the tournament with a win, so the momentum is definitely with us. We will continue to play positive cricket,” Rathour said.
He praised young talent Vaibhav Suryavanshi for his consistent hard work and composure, expressing optimism about his future performances. Rathour also highlighted the all-round capabilities of Ravindra Jadeja, stating that he will continue to contribute effectively with both bat and ball.
Addressing comments regarding the Impact Player rule—reportedly criticized by Shubman Gill—Rathour clarified that the rule is not new and is an integral part of the game.
“The Impact Player rule is not new. It is part of the game, and every team follows it,” he concluded.
