Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan has given a Jos Buttler warning to Royal Challengers Bengaluru for the first qualifier at Dharamshala on Tuesday. Buttler has been in prime form in the ongoing season and he is going to hold the key for GT.
The England International has scored 469 runs in 14 matches of the ongoing IPL 2026 at an average of 39.08 and a strike rate of 155.29. Buttler has consistently delivered while batting at number three and four in the ongoing season.
Buttler returned with scores of 25 and 39 against RCB earlier in the season. The wicket-keeper batsman scored an attacking knock of 57 runs off 27 balls against Chennai Super Kings in the last game.
Irfan Pathan said on Star Sports, “The good thing is that Jos Buttler has regained his form. During the World Cup, he was not scoring runs, but here he has found his touch again and now looks back in his old rhythm. He’s playing differently in the powerplay, but if the team gets a good start, he then starts attacking from the very first ball he faces, like the old Jos Buttler. That is not good news for the opposition.”
Pathan said GT must avoid losing early wickets in the Powerplay overs and they must handle Bhuvneshwar Kumar with guile.
He added, “He is now back in rhythm, batting in an aggressive style, and the opposition does have many high-quality attacking pace bowlers that Buttler would love while batting. As you know, he is an overseas batter from England. He plays the lap shot very well. I think this RCB bowling unit should suit Buttler, and that is why a good start becomes very important. They must avoid losing early wickets and continue with the right-left combination of Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan. The only thing is they just need to handle Bhuvneshwar Kumar well.”
On the other hand, former RCB head coach Sanjay Bangar reckons Bhuvneshwar Kumar can trouble Sai Sudharsan with an outswing delivery whereas he can breathe down the neck of Jos Buttler and Shubman Gill with incoming deliveries.
“For all three top-order batters, because he (Bhuvneshwar) swings the ball in that way, he can trouble Sai Sudharsan with outswing and also trouble Buttler and Shubman Gill with the incoming delivery. And especially Buttler, because he always has that fear of getting out LBW, so he tries to step out and play a bit, or go outside the off stump and play. In the last match, he even got Buttler out round the stumps.”
Bangar hailed Bhuvneshwar Kumar for his stellar performances in the ongoing season and added that every wicket he has taken has felt like a work of art.
“Every wicket Bhuvneshwar Kumar has taken this season has been like an artist’s work. It feels completely thought-out, showing skill and craft. I am expecting another excellent performance from Bhuvneshwar Kumar for RCB.”
RCB will take on GT at Dharamshala on Tuesday.
