In the heat of the T20 World Cup 2026, England’s white-ball skipper Jos Buttler is grappling with a frustrating dip in form. Despite the pressure, Buttler remains steadfast, refusing to prioritize personal recovery over team needs. Across four matches, he’s mustered just 53 runs, a tally that has raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.
Even against minnows like Scotland and Italy, Buttler couldn’t ignite his bat. Opening up on the ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast, he dissected his struggles. ‘T20 demands constant momentum,’ Buttler explained. ‘You can’t just bat for batting’s sake like in Tests, where coaches urge more time at the crease. Here, you have to keep the scoreboard ticking with aggressive shots.’
Buttler directly addressed former England captain Nasser Hussain’s suggestion to bat through 15 overs. ‘I’d love to bat that long,’ he admitted with a chuckle. ‘But I can’t ignore match situations and bat selfishly just to find form.’ His starts against Nepal (21 runs) and West Indies (26 runs) promised more, only to fizzle out dramatically later.
Reflecting on a 15-year career riddled with such phases across formats, Buttler exuded optimism. ‘Challenges are cricket’s constant companion,’ he said. ‘I’ve bounced back every time, and this will be no different.’ England has already secured Super 8 qualification, with their next clash against Sri Lanka set for February 22. As the tournament intensifies, all eyes are on whether Buttler can rediscover his explosive best.