England’s star wicketkeeper-batter, Jos Buttler, has officially stepped down as white-ball captain. His decision comes after England’s disappointing run in the 2025 Champions Trophy another failed ICC campaign under his leadership. This marks England’s second consecutive early exit in an ICC ODI event, following the disastrous 2023 World Cup.
Buttler’s leadership journey? A struggle. A lot like Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar’s stint as captain. Despite their brilliance with the bat, both players found captaincy more of a burden than a blessing.
A Captaincy Comparison: Buttler vs Tendulkar
Different eras. Different teams. But similar challenges.
- Sachin Tendulkar: Led India in 73 ODIs. Won only 23. Win percentage? Below 35%.
- Jos Buttler: Captained England in 45 ODIs. Secured 18 wins. Win percentage? Just over 40%.
Tendulkar led an Indian team heavily dependent on him. Buttler, on the other hand, took over a strong England squad from Eoin Morgan, who guided them to their first-ever ODI World Cup win in 2019. Yet, both struggled to inspire consistent victories.
Did Captaincy Affect Their Batting?
For some, leadership elevates performance. For others, it’s a weight too heavy to bear. Tendulkar and Buttler experienced the latter.
- Tendulkar as captain: Maintained a solid average, notched up centuries, but lacked consistency.
- Buttler as captain: Had a high strike rate but struggled with form. His overall batting output dipped significantly.
Let’s break it down further:
- Tendulkar’s ODI average fell from the mid-40s to the high-30s under captaincy.
- Buttler’s numbers? An even steeper decline—his batting took a hit, both in average and strike rate.
The verdict? Both players were far more effective as pure batters than as leaders.
What’s Next for Buttler?
With the captaincy burden off his shoulders, Buttler can now focus on what he does best winning games with his bat. This mirrors what happened with Tendulkar. Once he stepped down as India’s captain, his performances soared, solidifying his status as one of the greatest batters in history.
England, meanwhile, will now look for a fresh leader to steer their white-ball team back to glory. Who’s next in line? That remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure Jos Buttler, the batter, is far from done.
Key Takeaways:
- Buttler’s captaincy struggles mirror Sachin Tendulkar’s.
- Both had elite batting skills but failed to deliver as leaders.
- Their personal performances declined under captaincy.
- With Buttler stepping down, England seeks a new white-ball captain.
- Expect Buttler to shine again as a pure batter, just like Tendulkar did after giving up leadership.
The road ahead for England? Uncertain. But for Buttler? The best might still be yet to come.
Also Read: Hardik Pandya’s Knee Twist Puts India’s Champions Trophy Final At Risk
