IPL 2022: I can’t remember batting this well in the history of the IPL – Kumar Sangakkara on Jos Buttler

Rajasthan Royals director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara reckons he hasn’t seen anyone batting as well as Jos Buttler in the history of the Tata IPL 2022.

Buttler has scored 824 runs in 16 matches of Tata IPL 2022 (before the IPL final) at an impressive average of 58.86 and a strike rate of 151.47. The talisman has scored four centuries in the tournament, which is the joint-highest in a single edition of the IPL along with Virat Kohli.

Jos Buttler continued his dream form in the second qualifier against RCB as he scored a fine knock of 106 runs off just 60 balls to help his team chase down 158 runs with ease. Buttler was in red-hot form in the ongoing as he scored almost 500 runs in the first seven matches of the competition.

But, he veered off the track in the next seven games of the league stage. However, the England batter came back into form in the playoffs as he scored a brilliant knock of 89 runs in the first qualifier against Gujarat Titans after getting off to a slow start.

Meanwhile, Buttler is 25 runs away from going past David Warner’s record of 848 runs in a single season of the IPL, which is the second-highest tally in the tournament. Virat Kohli had scored 973 runs in IPL 2016 and he holds the record for most runs in a particular season.

Kumar Sangakkara said in the post-match press conference,”It’s hard to describe what he has done for us this season. I think he started off so well, had a little bit of a flutter at one point in the tournament, but he calmed himself down, had good conversations rather than just training. He accepted he’s mortal, he’s human and he can’t have that high level of excellence every single day.

“And to understand how you kind of reach that level at every game in different stages… Some days you have to fight and look ugly, other days your rhythm is there. The reality is you can’t fight that condition, but fight what’s happening on the day. You have to settle into it and build an innings. He can accelerate at any point, has all the strokes and understands the game really well. I can’t remember anyone batting this well in the history of the IPL.”

Jos Buttler has been magnificent for Rajasthan Royals and the opening batter played a key role in taking the franchise to the final of the tournament. Buttler will look to deliver the goods in the all-important final against GT on Sunday.