BENGALURU, March 30 - Former England captain Jos Buttler is aiming for a resurgence in the IPL with Gujarat Titans, emphasizing mental clarity over pressure.
The 35-year-old struggled at the recent T20 World Cup, scoring just 87 runs in eight matches as England lost to India in the semi-finals.
Buttler will now seek a fresh start with Gujarat, where he is expected to play a pivotal role. He stressed the importance of managing expectations, saying they can both help and hinder performance.
"My own drive and desire to play well is always the same," Buttler told Reuters. "Just making sure I'm in a nice headspace, that I'm not trying to live up to something."
Despite his international struggles, Buttler remains committed to representing England. He declined to set timelines for future selection, stating, "I'll always love playing for England."
With 4,120 runs in 121 IPL matches, Buttler is hoping to replicate last season's success. He also voiced concern over the impact player rule, calling it a threat to the traditional 11-player format.
"It's brought different challenges, given more opportunities to players," he noted. "But when it's 11 aside, you see the value of all-rounders in the game."
Gujarat begin their campaign against Punjab Kings on Tuesday.