Stuart Broad Criticizes Gujarat Titans’ Batting Order Decision in IPL 2026 Final
Former England pace bowler Stuart Broad has voiced his concerns over the decision made by Gujarat Titans (GT) to change Jos Buttler’s batting position during their IPL 2026 final loss to Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The match, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw RCB secure a five-wicket victory, successfully defending their IPL title. Broad pointed out that one of the key mistakes made by GT was altering Buttler’s usual batting position.
Buttler, who typically bats at No. 3 for GT, was moved down to No. 4 in the final. This decision came after GT captain Shubman Gill was dismissed early for just 10 runs. Instead of sending Buttler to bat at No. 3, the team opted for Nishant Sindhu, who scored only 20 from 18 balls before being dismissed. This move seemed to disrupt the team’s rhythm and ultimately affected their performance.
Buttler, who had been in excellent form throughout the tournament, struggled in his new position. He managed to score 19 off 23 deliveries, which was not enough to help GT reach a competitive total. The team ended up with 155/8, and RCB easily chased the target with two overs to spare.
Why Did GT Make the Change?
Appearing on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, Broad expressed confusion over why GT decided to tinker with a winning formula for such a crucial match. “Buttler batted at 3 throughout the tournament. And then came the final, batting first; he moved down to bat at 4. I can’t get my head around why you changed the role in the final. Even AB de Villiers said it was a defensive move.”
Buttler had an outstanding season in the IPL 2026, scoring 526 runs from 17 matches at a strike rate of 152.46 while batting at No. 3. However, the change in his role appeared to have taken the edge off the team’s batting lineup, especially after the early loss of Shubman Gill.
Steven Finn Also Questions the Move
Steven Finn, another former England pace bowler, also raised concerns about the decision. He noted that Buttler was no stranger to facing the new ball, having opened the batting for England for many years. “Buttler dropping down was surprising, as it’s not like he’s not exposed to the new ball, having opened so much for England. It does seem slightly curious. The only rationale behind the move was the think tank feeling the pitch was going to get better and having the guy at No. 3 to just stay at the crease until the wicket got better for batting, allowing Jos to catch up and do his thing.”
Impact on Middle-Order Performance
Broad also highlighted another factor that hindered GT’s chances of repeating their title success. During the league stages, the opening partnership between Shubman Gill and Sai Sudharsan had been consistently strong. This allowed the middle-order to remain relatively untested under pressure. However, in the final, both Gill and Sudharsan failed to perform, leaving the middle-order without support. RCB took full advantage of this weakness, leading to their victory in the IPL 2026 final.
Key Takeaways
- Buttler’s Role Shift: Moving Buttler down the order disrupted the team’s momentum.
- Pitch Strategy: The decision may have been based on the belief that the pitch would improve later in the innings.
- Opening Partnership: The loss of Gill and Sudharsan left the middle-order vulnerable.
- Expert Opinions: Both Broad and Finn questioned the strategic choices made by GT in the final.
The defeat serves as a reminder of how critical it is for teams to stick with their successful strategies, especially in high-stakes matches. For GT, the 2026 season will be remembered as a close call, with several tactical decisions coming under scrutiny.
