Jos Buttler’s Full-Time Captaincy Ends In Disappointment, Leaving Questions Over His Legacy

March 2, 2025: As England’s star batter Jos Buttler concludes his white-ball captaincy stint, questions loom over the future of the team, which has endured a series of underwhelming performances in recent tournaments. England’s once-dominant white-ball squad, known for its fearless approach, has struggled in key competitions, leaving Buttler’s leadership career in the balance.

England’s journey in the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy ended on a poor note, with a seven-wicket loss to South Africa in their final league match, leading to a winless campaign. This followed a disappointing 2023 World Cup and lackluster performances in the ICC T20 World Cup, leaving England searching for answers.

Since Eoin Morgan led England to their first-ever World Cup title in 2019, it seemed England had cracked the code for white-ball cricket, thriving on aggressive batting, versatile bowlers, and a dynamic fielding unit. However, Morgan’s retirement in 2022 left a leadership vacuum, which Buttler was entrusted to fill. While Buttler guided England to a T20 World Cup victory in 2022, the post-Morgan era has been challenging.

In the 2023 World Cup, England failed to make it past the group stage, finishing in seventh place. Their performances in the 2025 Champions Trophy were even worse, with Buttler’s leadership record in ODIs (18 wins, 26 losses) reflecting a team that has yet to find its rhythm under his captaincy.

While Buttler has proven himself to be one of England’s best limited-overs batters, his captaincy stint has exposed cracks in his game. Since taking on the full-time captaincy in 2022, Buttler’s batting has taken a hit. His ODI stats since then show a sharp decline in form, with just one century and a poor average of 32.60 in 36 matches. In contrast, as a non-captain, Buttler had a far more impressive record, scoring over 3,700 runs at a significantly higher average.

His T20I performances, on the other hand, have been more consistent, but his leadership in major tournaments has been underwhelming. Despite his solid T20I numbers, Buttler’s struggle in World Cups and Champions Trophies has raised doubts about his ability to deliver on the big stage. His form in India, a challenging venue for English batters, has been particularly disappointing, with a poor average of 22.11 in 17 matches since 2022.

England now faces a leadership transition, with Buttler needing to reclaim his batting form and the fearless attitude that once made him one of the most dangerous batters in world cricket. In a statement after England’s loss to South Africa, Buttler expressed hope that, like Joe Root, he could rediscover his form after relinquishing captaincy. Root’s post-captaincy resurgence has given Buttler hope that he can do the same and regain his place as one of the best in the business.

As Buttler steps away from the captaincy, the question remains: can he redeem himself and restore his legacy as one of the finest white-ball batters of his generation? England’s future in white-ball cricket depends on it.