[WATCH] 'Never going to be an Orange Cap winner' – Jos Buttler uses RCB star as example to highlight impact of data in T20 cricket

England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler recently highlighted how data is transforming T20 cricket, using Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter Tim David as a prime example. Speaking on the 'For The Love Of Cricket' podcast, Buttler explained that although David may never win the Orange Cap, his value lies in his impactful cameos. “Someone like Tim David had an exceptional season with RCB. He’s never going to be an Orange Cap winner. But the impact in those 10 balls he faces—these are the sort of things. How data has affected T20 cricket,” Buttler said.

David was signed by RCB in the IPL 2025 mega auction for ₹3 crore and went on to score 187 runs from nine innings. While the total may appear modest, his average of 62.33 and explosive strike rate of 185.14 proved crucial for the franchise. His ability to finish games and play high-impact roles in limited deliveries shows how data now evaluates players beyond traditional milestones like runs or wickets.

During the same conversation, RCB analyst Freddie Wilde spoke about the behind-the-scenes contributions of Dinesh Karthik. Acting as batting coach and mentor, Karthik also made real-time fielding adjustments, similar to a football manager’s style. “In one game against Chennai, he moved the third man fractionally finer, and the ball pretty much went to that guy the next ball,” Wilde recalled. He credited RCB captain Rajat Patidar’s openness to tactical tweaks as a key factor in their success.

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Buttler, McCullum, and the instinct-over-data philosophy

Jos Buttler also shed light on how England Test coach Brendon McCullum uses a different approach—relying less on analytics. “Baz is a really clever coach... He’s more of a feel coach. He likes to create a vibe and an atmosphere,” Buttler said. Freddie Wilde echoed the sentiment, saying McCullum prefers players to go out with an “uncluttered mind” and use their instincts.

Currently, England is leading India 2-1 in a gripping five-match Test series at home, and the debate over instinct versus data continues to shape the modern game.