Jos Buttler said he was motivated by “a few months of pretty unenjoyable cricket” and his mistakes behind the stumps as he led Gujarat Titans to an eight-wicket win against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.
Buttler, who gave up the England white-ball captaincy after their Champions Trophy exit, accelerated after a careful start to make 73 not out and expertly steer home a chase of 170 with 13 balls to spare.
Batting at number three, he took only nine from his first 10 balls before a pull for four and two sixes, the first a top-edge over the wicketkeeper, got him going.
He finished with five fours and six sixes in his 39-ball knock as he put on 75 with opener Sai Sudharsan and an unbroken 63 with Sherfane Rutherford.
Buttler’s commanding innings came after he dropped RCB opener Phil Salt and missed a stumping chance to dismiss another England team-mate in Liam Livingstone, who top-scored with 54 in the hosts 169-8.
“I was pretty embarrassed,” said Buttler, who made 54 and 39 in his previous two innings at this year’s IPL.
“The only thing I can think of is I was trying to throw it [the catch] up a bit early [to celebrate]. I barely got a glove on it. It hit me in the chest.
“Due to that embarrassment I was pretty determined to score some runs.”
