Jos Buttler hit his fourth century in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 to equal former Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) skipper Virat Kohli’s record. Before Buttler’s match-winning unbeaten 106 in IPL 2022 Qualifier 2, Kohli was the only batter in IPL history to score four centuries in a single season. Kohli achieved the rare feat in IPL 2016 when RCB reached the final.
During his 106-run knock, Buttler also surpassed three batters on the list of most runs in a single IPL season. Buttler had 718 runs before the qualifier clash. He surpassed Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) skipper Kane Williamson (735 runs in IPL 2018), Chris Gayle (733 runs in IPL 2012) and Mike Hussey (733 runs in IPL 2013). The 31-year-old now has 824 runs from 16 innings at an average of 58.85 including four centuries and four half-centuries.
Buttler hit six sixes in the run chase. Now, he has third-most sixes (45 sixes) in a single IPL season after Andre Russell (52 sixes) and Gayle (59 sixes).
The in-form RR opener will have a chance to break Kohli’s record when the Sanju Samson-led side takes on Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2022 final at Narendra Modi Stadium on May 29.
While Kohli’s record of most runs in a single season (973 runs) seems a little too ambitious to surpass for Buttler, he can become second on the list. In the final, Buttler needs 25 more runs to surpass Delhi Capitals (DC) opener David Warner, who scored 848 runs in 2016 season when SRH won the title.
In addition, the record for most fours in a single season will be up for grabs as well. Warner holds the record for most fours (88) in an IPL season followed by Sachin Tendulkar (86), Kohli (83), Hussey (81). With 10 fours against RCB, Buttler has 78 fours in the ongoing season.
