Jos Buttler tops Virat Kohli, matches Babar Azam after cracking ton in Rajasthan Royals' record chase against Kolkata Knight Riders

In a nail-biting finish at Eden Gardens, Jos Buttler produced a masterclass innings to propel Rajasthan Royals (RR) to a record-tying victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Chasing a mammoth 224 runs against the Kolkata Knight Riders, Buttler played a composed knock, anchoring the chase even as wickets fell around him. His ability to stay calm under pressure was crucial. Buttler absorbed pressure early on, then took over in the death overs, finding boundaries and keeping his side in the hunt. Coming in as an impact player alongside Yashasvi Jaiswal at the top of the order, Buttler truly lived up to his designation. This win wasn't just special for Buttler's heroics, but for its historic significance.  Back in IPL 2020, the Royals had etched their name in the record books by chasing down 224 runs against the Punjab Kings. With Buttler at the helm, they replicated that feat at Eden Gardens on Tuesday, April 16, securing a thrilling last-ball victory and matching their own record for the highest successful chase in IPL history.

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Highest successful run-chase recorded in IPL:

224 - Rajasthan Royals vs Punjab Kings - RR won by 4 wickets - IPL 2020
224 - Rajasthan Royals vs Kolkata Knight Riders - RR won by 2 wickets - IPL 2024
219 - Mumbai Indians vs Chennai Super Kings - MI won by 4 wickets - IPL 2021

Most runs added after the fall of 6th wicket in a successful IPL run-chase
 

103 - RR vs KKR, Kolkata, 2024
91 - RCB vs GL, Bengaluru, 2016 Q1
85 - CSK vs MI, Mumbai WS, 2018

Buttler's phenomenal century not only secured victory but also propelled him up the IPL's record books. He surpassed the legendary Chris Gayle for the most centuries overall in the league, although Virat Kohli of Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) still holds the top spot. However, Buttler can now claim bragging rights for most centuries while chasing in the IPL, surpassing Kohli's previous record of two. This achievement puts him in esteemed company. Buttler now shares the record for most T20 centuries in a successful run-chase with Pakistan's white-ball captain, Babar Azam.

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Batters with most centuries in IPL

Virat Kohli - 8

Jos Buttler - 7

Chris Gayle - 6

Batters with most centuries in IPL run-chases

3 - Jos Buttler

2 - Virat Kohli

2 - Ben Stokes

Batters with most T20 centuries in a winning cause

16 - Chris Gayle

8 - Babar Azam

8 - Jos Buttler

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How the KKR vs RR match unfolded?

The IPL encounter between RR and KKR was a heart-stopping thriller that went down to the wire. Chasing a mammoth 224 runs for victory, RR found themselves needing a challenging 9 runs in the final over. Jos Buttler, the hero of the match, took matters into his own hands.  He smashed the first ball of the final over, bowled by Varun Chakaravarthy, for a massive six, immediately easing the pressure on his team.  However, Chakaravarthy fought back, delivering three consecutive dot balls, raising doubts about the chase. Undeterred, Buttler remained calm and collected. With just one fielder outside the circle, he managed to find a gap on the fifth delivery, securing a crucial two runs. Needing just one more run for victory, Buttler found the boundary again, sending the Eden Gardens crowd into a frenzy. He finished the match unbeaten on a magnificent 107 runs off just 60 balls, an innings decorated with 9 fours and 6 sixes.

Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders had set a daunting target of 223 runs on the board, powered by a brilliant century from Sunil Narine. Narine, batting at the top of the order, smashed a blazing 109 runs off 56 balls, carrying his team's batting charge almost single-handedly. Despite Narine's heroics, it was ultimately Jos Buttler's phenomenal innings that stole the show. In a dramatic turn of events, Buttler snatched victory for Rajasthan Royals from the jaws of defeat. 

RR will next lock horns with Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 22 while KKR will take on Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) on April 21.

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