Rajasthan Royals star Jos Buttler delivered one of his finest performances in T20 cricket, helping his team chase down the highest-ever total in the IPL history. Jos Buttler said it was pivotal to maintain self belief even when odds didn’t look in their favour on Tuesday night. As Rajasthan Royals chased 224 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens, they looked down and out at 121/6 in the 13th over. But he took a leaf out of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli’s book on how to eclipse targets from adverse situations.
Jos Buttler, who missed RR’s previous fixture due to injury, single-handedly pulled off IPL’s joint-highest successful chase with an unbeaten 107 runs from 60 balls.
Jos Buttler Record wrenching century as RR now sits comfortably on top of the table.
Jos Buttler unleashed his beast mode in a crucial run-chase against Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 31 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season at Eden Gardens. Buttler’s incredible century helped the Royals chase down a mammoth 224. They were down to 121/6 before he tormented the KKR bowlers. Buttler smashed his seventh ton, now the second-most in the IPL.
Despite losing Yashaswi Jaiswal, Sanju Samson, and Riyan Parag, RR reached 100 within 10 overs. Jos Buttler held his end, having stitched crucial partnerships with Samson and Riyan. However, RR slumped from 100/3 to 121/6 in no time. Jos Buttler kept RR afloat along with Rovman Powell. With 46 runs required in three overs, he went all out. He completed his ton in the final over. Jos Buttler raced to his century off just 55 balls on the final over’s first delivery. He eventually smashed an unbeaten 107 off 60 balls, a knock laced with 13 fours and 6 sixes.
As mentioned, Jos Buttler now has the second-most centuries in the IPL (7). He broke a tie with Universe Boss Chris Gayle, who owns six centuries in this regard. Jos Buttler is now only behind Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Virat Kohli (8) in terms of IPL tons. Earlier this season, Jos Buttler smashed a ton against RCB, equaling Gayle on the tally.
It is worth noting that Buttler has the joint-most tons in an IPL season (four in 2022), with Kohli (four in 2016). The former has already smacked two centuries halfway into the ongoing season. Buttler has tallied 250 runs at 62.50 in IPL 2024. Buttler has become the first batter with more than two centuries in IPL run-chases.
The one against KKR was his third such ton in this regard. Kohli and Ben Stokes follow Buttler with two centuries each. Notably, Kohli and Stokes are the only batters other than Buttler with multiple hundreds in run-chases in the cash-rich league. Buttler hit his eighth century in the T20 format overall. He is now only behind Gayle (22 ), Babar Azam (11), and Kohli (9).
He equaled David Warner, Aaron Finch and Michael Klinger (8 centuries each).The England star has raced to 11,396 runs in the T20s at 34.95. In addition to eight tons, he owns 80 fifties. This was his 409th match. Buttler now owns 3,473 runs from 102 matches at 39.02. In addition to his seven tons, he has smacked 19 fifties. His strike rate is 148.29. As per ESPNCricinfo, Buttler has raced to 477 runs against KKR at 43.36. This was Buttler’s second IPL century against the team. For RR, Buttler owns 2,946 runs at 43.32.
Jos Buttler though tired and limping after the century was seeing ecstatic about same and spoke a lot about it.
RR batter Jos Buttler after his 100 vs KKR credits Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni for his success in chasing 224.
Rajasthan Royals’ star Jos Buttler on Tuesday said he never lost self belief during his match-winning hundred here and took a leaf out of Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli’s books on how to achieve targets from adverse situations. Buttler, who missed RR’s last game against Punjab Kings due to an injury, single-handedly pulled off IPL’s biggest chase while overwhelming Kolkata Knight Riders’ 223 for 6 in the last ball of the match, remaining unbeaten on 107 off 60 balls.
He was struggling to even walk towards the end but didn’t give up.
“Keep believing, that was the real key today. I was struggling a bit for rhythm. At times you feel frustrated or you are questioning yourself. I tell myself it’s okay, keep going, you’ll get your rhythm back and try to stay calm.
“There’s been plenty of times throughout the IPL, you’ve seen crazy things happen. Guys like Dhoni and Kohli, the way they stay till the end and keep believing and I tried to do the same,” Buttler said at the post-match presentation.
The Englishman also credited RR’s Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara for enhancing his self-belief.
“That’s something Sangakkara has told me a lot – there’s always a breaking point,” he said.
“The worst thing you can do is to not fight and give your wicket away. He (Sangakkara) just tells me to stay there and at some point, the momentum will change. That’s been a big part of my play over the last few years.”
He termed Tuesday’s knock as his best IPL innings.
“I would think so (best IPL innings). Very satisfying,” RR skipper Sanju Samson said Buttler is a special player and when he is on song, no target is safe.
“Very happy with the win. We were wondering like the wickets we lost. Rovman (Powell) hit a couple of sixes and that’s when we felt like we were in the game. Some luck also, they also played really well. The quality of spin they had, they bowled really well. This ground suited them.
“Jos (Buttler) did what he does for us in the last 6-7 years, so happy for him. It (Buttler’s knock) should go right on top. Being an opener, if he gets in, no runs are unchasable. He does something special,” he said.
Jos Buttler’s ominous form means now Rajasthan Royals sitting on top with 12 points are a serious contenders for IPL 2024 title and would believe that their team would deliver them it the 2nd time since 2008.