BENGALURU : Jos Buttler is aiming to rediscover his best form by maintaining a calm mental approach, saying his focus is on reducing pressure and letting performances come naturally.
The former England cricket team captain endured a disappointing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, scoring just 87 runs in eight matches as England were eliminated by India national cricket team in the semi-finals.
The 35-year-old now turns his attention to the Indian Premier League, where he will represent the Gujarat Titans and is expected to play a pivotal role.
Buttler acknowledged that expectations have been a constant throughout his career, describing them as both motivating and restrictive.
“Expectations can help you at times because you want to live up to those standards, but they can also be limiting,” he told Reuters.
“My own drive and desire to perform is always there, but it’s about managing those expectations and focusing on what I can control.
“Making sure I’m in a good headspace and not trying to live up to something.”
Buttler added that he is not placing pressure on himself regarding future selection, including next year’s one-day World Cup, and remains focused on contributing whenever called upon.
“My ambition will always burn strongly to play for England,” said Buttler, who led the team to the 2022 T20 World Cup title. “I don’t want to look too far ahead… we’ll just wait and see.”
IPL focus
Buttler, England’s leading run-scorer in IPL history with 4,120 runs in 121 matches, is hoping to replicate last season’s success when Gujarat begin their campaign against the Punjab Kings on Tuesday.
He also praised Gujarat captain Shubman Gill for his leadership, while sharing concerns over the IPL’s “impact player” rule.
“I’m traditional — cricket has always been 11 versus 11,” Buttler said. “The rule brings new challenges and opportunities, but it may dilute the value of all-rounders a little.”
