NEW DELHI: Jos Buttler sat out Rajasthan Royals' match against Punjab Kings due to injury, but upon his return, the Englishman orchestrated a remarkable performance, single-handedly leading his team to IPL's record chase against Kolkata Knight Riders at the packed Eden Gardens on Wednesday.
Facing a daunting task after Sunil Narine's explosive 109 off 56 deliveries propelled KKR to a commanding total of 223/6, Buttler showcased immense grit and determination.
Despite evident signs of discomfort towards the end, Buttler spearheaded Rajasthan Royals' charge, smashing an unbeaten 107 off just 60 balls.
Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh showered praise on Buttler for his heroic display, labeling him a 'special player'.
1/9:Jos Buttler pips Sunil Narine in RR's record chase vs KKR
<p>Jos Buttler pips Sunil Narine in RR's record chase vs KKR</p>AFP
2/9:Buttler's Mastery
<p>Jos Buttler scored an unbeaten 107, leading Rajasthan Royals to a record IPL chase against Kolkata Knight Riders.</p>AFP
3/9:Rajasthan's Historic Chase
<p>Chasing 224, Rajasthan Royals achieved the target on the final ball, equaling their 2020 record chase against the Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings) in Sharjah.</p>AFP
4/9:Buttler's Impact
<p>Entering as an impact substitute, Buttler reached his ton in 55 balls, setting up a thrilling finish to a fiesty encounter.</p>AFP
5/9:Surpassing Chris Gayle
<p>With his performance, Buttler surpassed Chris Gayle, securing seven IPL centuries, just behind Virat Kohli.</p>AFP
6/9:Pivotal partnerships
<p>Buttler's partnerships with Riyan Parag and Rovman Powell were crucial in Rajasthan's chase.</p>AFP
7/9:The Narine Show
<p>Despite the loss, Sunil Narine's 109 off 56 balls was a highlight, marking his first T20 century.</p>AFP
8/9:Century Celebration
<p>Sunil Narine scored his first T20 century on Tuesday. Amassing his century with a plethora of 4s and 6s, Narine's celebration was a memorable moment of the match.</p>AFP
9/9:Remain second
<p>Despite Narine's effort, KKR remain second in the standings, with notable contributions from the team's players such as Narine, Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Andre Russell, and Rinku Singh. </p>AFPHowever, Harbhajan also slammed Riyan Parag, who impressed with a brisk 34 off 14 deliveries but then carelessly surrendered his wicket to Harshit Rana.
"He (Buttler) is a special player. He is a different-level player. He is calm and composed. Whenever he got the chance, he hit sixes, fours and grabbed singles and doubles. When the other players are getting out, it is important to hold your batting and play your own game. A lot of youngsters need to learn from Buttler's innings. Riyan is a talented player. He scored 34 runs but this is how matches are won. You need to be there, you need to hold the fort," Harbhajan told Star Sports.
"You have that clear mindset to play which shot to play against which bowler. This is not the first time Jos Buttler has done it. He has done this several times and I am sure we will see him do this a lot more time in the future as well. He is one of the legends of the game," the former spinner said.
WATCH:
Rajasthan Royals, who are on top of the points tally with 6 wins and 1 loss in 7 matches, will face Lucknow Super Giants at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on April 27.
