'Been searching for runs': Buttler gets his IPL mojo back

Jos Buttler has been around long enough to know it
usually takes perseverance to bring a run drought to an end and the Gujarat
batter's resolve was finally rewarded with a stellar knock in the Titans' win
over Delhi Capitals on Wednesday.
England's former white‑ball captain had managed just
87 runs across eight innings in this year's Twenty20 World Cup but scores of 38
and 26 in the first two games of the Indian Premier League suggested a
turnaround was at hand.
Buttler smashed 52 off 27 balls, including five
sweetly timed sixes, to help Gujarat rack up 210‑4 against Delhi at Arun
Jaitley Stadium but his calm presence behind the stumps proved just as crucial
in a final‑ball thriller.
With Delhi needing two runs off the last delivery,
David Miller failed to connect with Gujarat seamer Prasidh Krishna's slow
bouncer but set off for a single aiming to tie the score and force a Super
Over.
However, Buttler neatly collected the ball and broke
the stumps with an underarm throw to run out Miller's batting partner Kuldeep
Yadav and seal Gujarat's first win in three matches. Read full story
"Great to get the win, blind squirrels and all
that," Buttler said. "Very lucky throw but, obviously delighted. We
desperately needed a win, glad we managed to sneak through."
Just being back among the runs was pleasing for the 35‑year‑old.
"(Feeling) good, been searching for them a little
bit. Felt in good touch actually, since I've been here," he added.
"I've played for long enough to know that it'll
come back at some point. You just got to keep working through it."
Gujarat, who won the IPL title in their debut season
in 2022, climbed to sixth in the standings and next face Lucknow Super Giants
on Sunday.
















