T20 World Cup 2026: Should England drop Jos Buttler after his poor run of scores and bring Ben Duckett into the playing XI?
Since the beginning of 2026, Jos Buttler has remained England’s lowest T20I run-getter in the top seven among those who have played at least five games. The right-handed batter has managed only 143 runs in 10 T20I innings at an average of 14.3 and a poor strike rate of 121.18, with the best score of just 39.
In the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Buttler has scored only 62 runs in seven innings at 8.85 at a struggling strike rate of 106.89. He has scored only two double-figure scores out of the seven innings, which has been a massive concern for the management. Now the question stands if they should trust the veteran for their semifinal clash against India.
Buttler hits rock bottom with average of 19.5 as T20I opener since 2025
Buttler has a very strong T20I record in India, being England’s leading run-getter in the country. The Taunton-born has scored 625 runs in just 24 innings at an average of 32.89. He has also carried a blistering strike rate of 148.10 with four half-centuries, with the best score of an undefeated 83 runs.
Meanwhile, he has continued the same dominance in this country during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Among the overseas players, he is fifth on the list with 3792 runs in 107 innings at a strike rate of 149.82.
Since 2020, Buttler has been the best overseas IPL batter in India with 2406 runs in 62 innings at 44.55 and a strike rate of 149.25. Moreover, he has scored seven centuries in the list, a feat that only Virat Kohli has crossed in 259 overall IPL innings.
| T20Is in Ind | IPL record in Ind | |
| Inns | 24 | 107 |
| Runs | 625 | 3792 |
| Avg | 32.89 | 40.77 |
| SR | 148.10 | 149.82 |
| 50s | 04 | 22 |
| 100s | 00 | 07 |
| HS | 83* | 124 |
| 4s | 43 | 380 |
| 6s | 34 | 169 |
Fig 1: Jos Buttler’s T20I and IPL performance in India
Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Key battles to watch out for in India vs England semi-final
Buttler’s worst T20 World Cup campaign
Butler was not just the leader but England’s leading run-getter when they lifted the T20 World Cup in 2022. But, he only seems to be a shadow of his former self – from scoring 225 runs at a strike rate of 144.23 in Australia to averaging 8.85 in the ongoing edition. The campaign marks his second-worst T20 WC ever.
| Inns | Runs | SR | |
| T20 WC 2021/22 | 06 | 269 | 151.12 |
| T20 WC 2022/23 | 06 | 225 | 144.23 |
| T20 WC 2024 | 07 | 214 | 158.51 |
| T20 WC 2015/16 | 06 | 191 | 159.16 |
| T20 WC 2013/14 | 04 | 74 | 115.62 |
| T20 WC 2025/26 | 07 | 62 | 106.89 |
| T20 WC 2012/13 | 05 | 40 | 114.28 |
Fig 2: Jos Buttler’s performance breakup in T20 WCs
Buttler averages 19.5 as T20I opener since 2025
In comparison to every two-year phase from 2021, Buttler has struggled in T20Is in the last 14 months. Since 2025, the Lancashire batter has scored only 623 runs at an average of 25.95, shouldering on just three fifties.
Many fans and former players were vocal about seeing Buttler opening in T20Is. But that position seems to be an issue for the individual in the last 14 months. As an opener, Buttler has only 312 T20I runs at 19.5 in 16 innings since the beginning of 2025. In the same period, he has bagged only one half-century.
| 2021-2022 | 2023-2024 | Since 2025 | |
| Inns | 29 | 23 | 24 |
| Runs | 1051 | 861 | 623 |
| Avg | 47.77 | 45.31 | 25.95 |
| SR | 150.35 | 166.53 | 151.95 |
| 50s | 09 | 02 | 03 |
| 100s | 01 | 03 | 00 |
Fig 3: Jos Buttler’s T20I performance breakup
Read More: T20 World Cup 2026: Numerical view of Wankhede track this tournament
Should England drop Jos Buttler ahead of T20 WC 2026 semifinals?
Buttler’s mode of dismissals in the ongoing T20 WC 2026 campaign is quite similar. Against New Zealand, he tried to push the length delivery off the back foot and got an outside edge into the hands of the wicket-keeper for a two-ball duck.
That was a replica of his dismissal in the clash against Pakistan. Buttler slashed the out-swinging delivery from Shaheen Afridi and earned a healthy inside edge behind the stumps. Sri Lanka used the left-arm spinner, Dunith Wellalage, to send back the 35-year-old, who was adjudged leg before the stumps in trying to play the miscued reverse sweep.
Buttler’s issues against the pacers are immense in the T20 WC 2026 campaign. Against fast bowlers, he has managed only 45 runs in seven innings at nine and a strike rate of 107.10. He has struggled equally against spinners for an average of 8.5 in three innings.
For now, captain Harry Brook has backed Jos Buttler to deliver in the next game. But how long will that backing last? At some point, will the team management consider bringing Ben Duckett into the XI and giving Buttler a breather to freshen up? Duckett has been a reliable performer in T20Is, scoring 527 runs in 21 innings at an impressive strike rate of 153.19.
“He’s a powerhouse of world cricket. He has been for many years. He’s arguably the best white-ball player to have ever played the game, and he’s just lacking a little bit of confidence at the minute. But I’d rather him start the competition like this and finish with a flourish,” Brook said at the post-match presentation after the New Zealand game.
It also comes down to Buttler and how he communicates with the management. Does he want to carry on, or does he feel it might be the right time to step out of the XI? More importantly, is this the moment for England to move on from their long-time servant?
The semifinal clash against India at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on March 5 could give a brighter picture. Buttler has a strong T20 record of 763 runs at a strike rate of 142.1 with three fifties and one century at this ground. But at the end of the day, it’s a knockout clash. Can he withstand the pressure? If not, it could possibly be the end of a fantastic T20I career.
Read More: Brook has employed spin for 72.4 overs in T20 WC 2026 – the most by any England captain at a T20 WC
