Gujarat Titans arrived at the IPL 2026 final in Ahmedabad carrying genuine momentum and a settled batting blueprint that had worked brilliantly throughout the season. Jos Buttler batted at number three throughout the tournament, giving GT's innings early aggression and structure in equal measure. So when Royal Challengers Bengaluru's bowlers tore through the top order inside the power play, fans expected Buttler to walk straight out to the middle.
He never did, at least not when it mattered most.
What Jos Buttler Said About The Nehra Instruction?
Speaking on the For the Love of Cricket podcast with former England pacer Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler gave a candid account of a moment that has since defined the post-final conversation. After Shubman Gill was dismissed cheaply for just 10 runs, Buttler stood up and reached for his helmet, ready to fulfil his usual role. Head coach Ashish Nehra, however, had other ideas. Nehra told him to sit back down, opting instead to send Nishant Sindhu in at number three.
Buttler explained that Nehra's reasoning centred on giving Sindhu, a recognised top-order batter who had at times slipped down to number seven when the team's innings gathered pace quickly, a proper chance to get into the game. The logic, however, struck many observers as a peculiar moment to experiment, given the weight of a final and the conditions GT were facing.
Jos Buttler Confronted Nehra After The Game
Buttler also confirmed that he went directly to Nehra after the match to seek an explanation, a conversation that underlines how unexpected the call genuinely felt to him. Broad said he could not get his head around why GT changed the role in the final, adding that even AB de Villiers described it as a defensive move. Former England pacer Steven Finn, also part of the podcast discussion, pointed out that Buttler carries enormous experience facing the new ball and questioned whether GT genuinely believed conditions would ease significantly by the time he arrived.
RCB won by five wickets with two overs to spare, successfully defending the title and becoming only the third team in IPL history to do so. Virat Kohli hit his fastest IPL fifty and his highest playoff score to seal the chase, ensuring GT's batting missteps were punished fully.
The debate around this decision will linger long after the trophy has been lifted. GT's decision to hold back Jos Buttler, one of the most destructive batters in T20 cricket, in the single most important game of their season, remains one of the most discussed tactical calls of the entire IPL 2026 campaign.
