Gujarat Titans versus Punjab Kings in IPL 2026 delivered an innings that statistics alone don't quite explain. Jos Buttler, GT’s big-money overseas opener, finished with 38 off 33 balls at a strike rate of 115. While that looks okay on a scorecard, it was too slow for a player meant to dominate the power play and middle overs. Even so, Gujarat reached 162, a score that can defend on most pitches. This happened because three specific partnerships picked up the slack and covered for Buttler’s slow start.
Partnership One: Gill and Buttler set a foundation without detonating
Shubman Gill’s 39 at the top gave GT something more valuable than just runs; it gave them stability. He made sure Punjab’s new-ball bowlers didn't get early wickets. Gill played at a steady pace, which meant the middle order didn't walk out into a crisis. Buttler followed his lead, and they built a platform, but neither player ever really accelerated. This left GT’s scoring rate lower than they would have liked between the fifth and ninth overs.
Partnership Two: Phillips shifts the momentum
Glenn Phillips came in and immediately started scoring at a rate that forced Punjab to rethink their bowling plans. His 25 came fast enough to fix the run rate heading into the final overs. Phillips did more than just chip in; he changed the tempo of the innings from the twelfth over onwards. This meant the lower order wasn't left chasing an impossible total in the death overs.
Partnership Three: The middle order finishes the job
The final, and most overlooked, part of the innings was the lower-middle order’s ability to turn a decent start into a strong total. Through aggressive running and clever gap-finding, GT avoided a collapse. This allowed the final few batters to add the extra runs needed to push the score past 155 and into a range that Punjab would find difficult to chase.
Buttler’s form is becoming a real talking point for Gujarat. However, scoring 162 against Punjab shows that the GT lineup is strong enough to handle a poor day from their star player without the whole innings falling apart.
