Jos Buttler Channels Inner MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli to Lead Rajasthan Royals in Record-Breaking IPL 2024 Run Chase Against KKR

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KKR vs RR IPL 2024: In a monumental run chase against Kolkata Knight Riders, Rajasthan Royals' standout performer, Jos Buttler, revealed that he drew inspiration from the resilience of cricket stalwarts like Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virat Kohli.

Despite battling an injury and struggling for form, Buttler's unwavering self-belief was pivotal in propelling Rajasthan Royals to a stunning victory, as they successfully chased down KKR's imposing total of 223 for 6 on the very last ball of the match.

Why Jos Buttler Invoked MS Dhoni & Virat Kohli?

Reflecting on his innings, Buttler emphasised the importance of perseverance, echoing the mindset of legends like Dhoni and Kohli, who have often demonstrated the ability to steer their teams to victory from challenging situations.

"Keep believing, that was the real key today. At times, felt like I was struggling a bit for rhythm. Actually have been watching the golf and I saw a guy called Max Holmes. Anytime the negative thoughts come, I think the complete opposite and dare to dream. That's what kept me going."

"At times you feel frustrated or you are questioning yourself. I was trying to tell myself it'd be 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, you've seen it so many times in the IPL and I was trying to do the same," the 34-year-old English cricketer added further.

Jos Buttler Thanks Kumar Sangakkara

Acknowledging the role of Rajasthan Royals' Director of Cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, Buttler credited Sangakkara for instilling and reinforcing his self-belief. Sangakkara's advice to persevere through tough times and wait for the momentum to shift has been instrumental in shaping Buttler's approach to the game over the years.

"That's something Kumar Sangakkara has told me a lot - there's always a little breaking point. The worst thing you can do when you are not feeling your best is to fight it, try to force the issue and give your wicket away. He just tells me to stay there and at some point, the momentum will change or you'll find your rhythm or one shot will get you going. That's been a big part of my play over the last few years - try to stay the course and not get in my own way," the explosive right-handed batter added.

Describing his century as one of his finest performances in the IPL, Buttler expressed immense satisfaction with his contribution to the team's triumph. "I would think so. Anytime you're not out at the end to see your team through, especially off the last ball, in a big run-chase, very satisfying," Buttler remarked.

Samson Lauds Buttler's Performance

Rajasthan Royals' skipper, Sanju Samson, hailed Buttler as a special player whose presence at the crease makes any target achievable. Buttler's exceptional innings, especially as an opener, epitomized his ability to single-handedly change the course of a match.

"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 unchaseable. He does something special," the RR captain said.

Meanwhile, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer conceded that the loss was a bitter pill to swallow for his team. Despite a valiant effort, KKR found themselves on the wrong side of the result, with Buttler's sublime batting display proving too formidable to overcome.

"I would second that actually (bitter pill to swallow), emotions were a roller coaster, certainly didn't think we will get into this situation," Iyer said.

As the dust settles on this exhilarating encounter, both teams will reflect on the highs and lows of the game, with lessons learned and sights set on future challenges.