Jos Buttler Smashes 131 in England's 56-Run T20 Win Over India

Jos Buttler smashed a career-best 131 off just 55 balls to power England to a 56-run thrashing of India on 11 July, sealing the five-match T20 series 4-0 at Old Trafford.

Buttler's innings: his highest T20 score: included 12 fours and 9 sixes. He shared a record 203-run stand with Harry Brook, who made 198 not out, as England posted 241-2 before bowling India out for 185.

Buttler reached his century in the 16th over, pulling Arshdeep Singh for six over midwicket. He then accelerated, smashing Shivam Dube for two sixes in the 18th over before falling for 131 on the final ball of that over.

He was caught at backward square by Shreyas Iyer off Dube. "A tired slog," said BBC Test Match Special commentator Simon Mann. But by then, the damage was done.

Buttler's 131 is his best ever T20 score, surpassing his previous best of 101 not out. The partnership with Brook: 203 runs: is England's highest for any wicket in T20Is, beating the 182 by Dawid Malan and Eoin Morgan.

Brook also set a record: most runs by an England captain in a bilateral T20I series, with 198, overtaking Eoin Morgan's 192 against New Zealand in 2019.

This series win: England's first 4-0 sweep of India in T20Is: cements Buttler's legacy as one of England's greatest white-ball players. He led from the front, scoring 161 runs as captain in the 2023 West Indies series, and now has a career-best knock to his name.

Buttler's 131 is also the highest individual score by an England batter against India in T20Is. The previous best was 101 by Alex Hales in 2018.

England now head into a five-match ODI series against India starting 16 July. Buttler is expected to rest for the first two games, with Brook taking over captaincy. But his form here suggests he'll be key to England's 2026 T20 World Cup defence.

India, meanwhile, will rue missed chances. Tilak Varma dropped Brook on 85, and Arshdeep Singh bowled four wides in one over. "Why didn't they try this plan earlier?" asked former England batter Michael Carberry on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.

Buttler's knock was the difference. He walked off to a standing ovation, having played one of the great T20 innings on English soil.