IPL 2025: Jos Buttler stars in Gujarat Titans win over Delhi Capitals

Gujarat Titans

’ Jos Buttler gave ample demonstration of his ball-striking powers and fitness standards in punishing heat on Saturday, exhibiting yet again why he is still one of the top-rated batters in the shortest format.
The 34-year-old

Buttler

(97* off 54b; 11x4, 4x6) and West Indian

Sherfane Rutherford

(43 off 34b; 1x4, 3x6) shared a 119-run third-wicket partnership as the Titans chased down

Delhi Capitals

’ 204 in 19.2 overs with seven wickets and four balls to spare. With the win, GT also moved to the top of the table.

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The pursuit of 204, however, began on a wrong note for the Titans as captain Shubman Gill (7) was run out by a Karun Nair direct hit after he went for a non-existent single. Sai Sudharsan (36 off 21b; 5x4, 1x6) and Buttler added 60 off 35 balls to put the chase back on track.

Sudharsan caressed Aussie paceman Mitchell Starc for two boundaries through cover, showing why his batting is so highly regarded in the Indian cricket circles. He greeted Axar by sweeping him for six, but an attempt to smash left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav to the boundary saw him getting caught at deep mid-wicket.
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From there on, it was the Buttler and Rutherford show. Both were kept in check in the middle overs by Kuldeep and Vipraj Nigam but just as the pressure was building, Rutherford got going with a six off Kuldeep over extra cover before smashing Mohit Sharma for two consecutive sixes.

Axar brought Starc back to break the partnership but the pacer was struck for five consecutive boundaries by Buttler in the 15th over. In the end, Rahul Tewatia smashed a six and a four off Starc’s first two balls of the last over to take the team over the line.

Earlier, after DC were put in to bat, opener Abishek Porel began by smashing Mohammed Siraj for 14 in the opening over. However, he didn’t last long, bringing KL Rahul and Karun Nair together.
The Capitals galloped to 74/2 in six overs and looked set for a huge total on the placid batting wicket, but just as Nair (31 off 18b; 2x4, 2x6) was beginning to break the shackles, Prasidh Krishna (4/41) cut his stay short.

Axar (39 off 32b; 1x4, 2x6) and South African Tristan Stubbs (31 off 21b; 2x4, 1x6) steadied the ship with a 53-run alliance, with both hitting leg spinner Rashid Khan for a six each.