Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir has rated Jos Buttler as the best white-ball batter in the world, alongside Indian vice-captain Rohit Sharma.
Buttler was at his absolute best in the third T20I against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday as his blistering knock of 83 runs from 52 balls led his team to an easy eight wicket win.
Buttler was dismissed without troubling the scorers in the second T20I but he showed his class in the third game. The swasbuckling batsman started his knock in the topmost gear as he smashed Yuzvendra Chahal for two sixes in his first over.
The wicket-keeper batsman then gained confidence and didn’t look back as he scored more than half of his team’s runs in run-chase. England had to chase 157 runs and Buttler played a key role in taking his team over the line and thus he was awarded the Player of the match.
England got off to a rollicking start as they scored 57 runs in the first six overs and Buttler contributed 43 of them in the powerplay overs. The combative batsman reached his 11th T20I fifty off just 26 balls as he timed the ball to perfection.
Furthermore, Buttler’s knock of 83 runs is not only his highest score in the shortest format of the game but also he is now the highest scorer in the T20Is against India.
“He’s phenomenal, probably the best T20 batter in the world along with Rohit Sharma. Ian Bell just mentioned he is the best English white-ball batsman. According to me, Jos Buttler is the best white-ball batter in the world,” Gambhir said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo.
Gambhir added that Buttler has got a plethora of scoring options in his arsenal and he knows how to get the best out of himself.
“He’s got so many options. I don’t think there is anyone who has got so many options, be it facing the fast bowlers and spinners – the reverse sweep, the lap, everything. He is just phenomenal and once he is in this kind of form, it’s difficult for anyone to stop him because he has so many options,” Gambhir added.
Buttler was dropped on 76 by Indian skipper Virat Kohli but by then he had done the bulk of the damage. The pugnacious batsman will look to continue his good form.
The fourth T20I will take place on Thursday.
