Jose Butler He says the Indian Premier League has been the biggest influence on his career, with lessons and interactions from the tournament helping him in all formats for the England cricket team. Now with the Gujarat Titans, Buttler highlighted how access to elite players and coaches has sharpened his game, pointing to interactions with Rahul Dravid And Matthew Hayden As a key influence, especially against spin.“Absolutely, like I said, IPL has had the biggest impact on my career. The lessons I’ve learned during the IPL season, the interactions I’ve had, and the people I’ve worked with as a coach and player have all been invaluable,” he said during a media interaction. “Some of these conversations have helped me while playing Test cricket, T20 cricket and 50-over cricket for England. It has had a huge impact. “As Kevin (Patterson) was saying in his interview on my podcast, the opportunity to build a relationship with Rahul Dravid and work on playing spin creates opportunities that would otherwise be very limited. “Even now, after just a few days here, getting to talk to Matthew Hayden about batting – I might not have had that opportunity otherwise. So it has the same effect on me as it did for KP,” Buttler said. Buttler has scored 4,120 runs in 121 IPL matches at an average of 40 and a strike rate of 149.38, including seven centuries. He was in brilliant touch in IPL 2025, scoring 538 runs in 13 innings at a strike rate of 59.8 and 163, forming a strong top-order. Shabman Gul and B Sai Sudharsan. GT, the champions in 2022, kick off IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings at New Chandigarh on March 31. Despite a lean ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, where he scored 87 runs in eight innings, Buttler said his mindset had not changed. “It is no more or less important than any other IPL. No matter what has happened before, I am looking forward to the season, want to contribute and play well. “The challenge is the same — prepare well, get in a good headspace, and give yourself the best chance to perform. Whether you’re in shape or not, you need the energy to keep trying, keep preparing, and keep putting yourself out there. “I come to every IPL excited, wanting to do well for the team. I just try to assess the situation and do what is necessary on that day,” he said. On his World Cup struggles, Buttler admitted there was no single reason and said that time away from the game helped him reset. “There’s a small circle of people I turn to for advice on what they’re watching. I tried a lot during the World Cup, but for a number of reasons, it didn’t work. “You have to accept it. It’s a game with elements you can’t control, and everyone is trying to perform. “At 35, I’ve had 15 years of highs. You think and analyze, but there’s no secret. If that was the case, everyone would be scoring runs every time. “I enjoyed some time, reflected a bit, and the challenge is the same – bring energy to practice, prepare well, and then start from scratch on match day,” he explained. Buttler also praised uncapped fast bowler Ashok Sharma, whom he faced during his time in the nets. Rajasthan Royals. “He’s not just about pace. He’s got accuracy, a very good silver ball, and a big heart — qualities every fast bowler needs. He’s got all the makings to be an exciting prospect.”
