Kusal Mendis, a batsman and wicketkeeper from Sri Lanka, will join the Gujarat Titans (GT) for the remaining IPL 2025 after the tournament resumes. Reports state that Mendis will be joining the team in place of Jos Buttler, which is a devastating blow to the Gujarat Titans.
The Sri Lankan stumper-batter will soon be officially announced as the replacement for his English counterpart in the Shubman Gill-led team.
As reported by NewsWire, Buttler has informed GT that he would not be available for the team for the remainder of the season due to the league’s scheduling extension, which falls with England’s home series against the West Indies. The former England captain has been chosen in both squads for the three ODIs and the number of T20Is that England will host the Caribbean team.
The Three Lions’ recent series defeat to India and their early Champions Trophy departure a few weeks later led to Buttler’s dismissal as captain. The stumper-batter’s captaincy has been transferred to young batsman Harry Brook, and Buttler will now play as a specialist in the team.
Putting his national obligations before of his IPL work with GT, the seasoned player is probably going to go back home and play in bilateral series.
The team is not only on the verge of making it to the playoffs, but its No. 3 hitter was in excellent form, so Buttler’s departure will undoubtedly be devastating news. With an incredible average of 71.42 and a remarkable strike-rate of 163.93, Buttler scored 500 runs in 11 of their games. His greatest score of 97*, which helped GT win a thrilling final over, is one of five half-centuries he has scored.
Along with openers B Sai Sudharsan and Shubman Gill, he also created a lethal combination at the top of the order. It would be a huge loss for the team if the troika, who scored the majority of the goals for the Ahmedabad-based team, were to miss the rest of the season. But Mendis can crush opponents at will and has an incredible T20 record as well.