Sri Lanka wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis is set to be named as a temporary replacement signing for England wicket-keeper Jos Buttler for the remainder of the IPL 2025 season with the Gujarat Titans.
With the rejigged schedule of the IPL clashing with England’s limited-overs series with the West Indies and the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) naming Buttler in the squads, he will certainly miss the IPL 2025 Playoffs. While the England-West Indies series begins on May 29 in Edgbaston, the Qualifier 1 match of the Playoffs is also slated to be held on the same day.
According to NewsWire and ESPNcricinfo, Mendis will join his Lankan teammate Dasun Shanaka in the GT dugout. Mendis is likely to be roped in straight away into the GT XI in Buttler’s absence as their wicket-keeping options remain limited, with the uncapped Anuj Rawat being the only other contender.
The Titans are on top of the current standings with 16 points in 11 games and are a win away from securing qualification. Batting at No. 3 this season, Buttler has been in phenomenal form, smashing 500 runs at a 71.43 average. The England veteran is likely to feature in the last three league-stage games before flying out for his international commitments.
Mendis was recently seen in action in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) where he recorded 143 runs at a 168-plus strike rate for the Quetta Gladiators. Overall, the 30-year-old has amassed over 4700 runs in his T20 career with two centuries and 32 fifties.
This will also mark the first time Mendis has been signed for a stint in the IPL. However, with the new replacement rules in effect, the Titans cannot retain the Sri Lankan for the next season.
Source: Indian Express
–Agencies
