IPL 2024: Sunil Narine vs Jos Buttler - Performance analysis in league so far

On April 16, Rajasthan Royals (RR) pulled off a resounding victory against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Eden Gardens in Match 31 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. The top-of-the-table clash indeed lived up to expectations, all credit to Sunil Narine's scintillating hundred and Jos Buttler's counter-punch with a sensational ton.

As the two openers stood tall for their respective teams, records were shattered in a high-scoring nail-biter. Narine slammed his maiden century in professional cricket to guide his team to a staggering total of 223/6. The southpaw hit 109 off just 56 balls with the help of six maximums and 13 fours, while the second-best score for KKR was Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 30.

Narine, who also grabbed two wickets, was in the headlines till the 14^th over of the second innings. Royals were 128 for 6 at 14.1 overs and the chances of winning, according to ESPNcricinfo's forecaster, for the visitors were 0.32. However, that's when 'Jos the Boss’ unleashed his inner beast to pull off a miracle. Came in as an Impact, the Englishman made a significant impact with ruthless hitting that helped RR score 93 off the last 30 balls.  

Buttler played a knock to remember for the ages – 60 off 107 balls and hit the winning single on the very last ball of the innings. His first 42 runs came off 34 balls but his next 65 needed only 26 balls. Wickets kept falling at one end and the absence of recognised batters forced Buttler to face each of the last 18 balls of the chase. He looked exhausted and in pain towards the end, but put his body on the line to record the joint-highest successful chase in the IPL.

Let's take a look at Sunil Narine and Jos Buttler's performance so far in IPL 2024:

Sunil Narine - The man behind KKR's powerful start

IPL 2024 witnessed the bowler Sunil Narine being overshadowed by the batter Sunil Narine. Gautam Gambhir is back in the squad and he decided to give the spin wizard the old opener's role. The move has been effective since the start of the season. As we say a man who has nothing to lose in life is the most dangerous, Narine has absolutely no pressure with the bat and the opposition should worry. If he scores then great, if not, nobody is going to ask him anything and that gives him the licence to go after every bowler.

Narine has been giving KKR a strong start in most of the matches they have played so far. He is currently the fourth leading run-scorer with 276 runs at an average of 46 and a strike rate of 187.76. The Caribbean pinch-hitter has also a half-century to his credit, scoring 85 off 39 balls against Delhi Capitals. He has won two Player of the Match awards this season, both for his brilliance with the bat.

Narine's latest astonishing knock against RR was proof that he is not just a powerplay wonder. The left-hander displayed his batting prowess against a quality bowling unit that included Trent Boult, Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravichandran Ashwin. He became the just third player in league history to score a century for KKR and the first player to score a ton and take five wickets. As far as Narine’s bowling is concerned, the right-arm off-spinner has taken seven wickets so far.

It's either a hundred or nothing for Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler's form had worried the franchise in the first few matches. The 2022 Orange Cap winner had scored just 35 runs in the first three matches. But the right-hander broke that shackles with a stunning century in the next game against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He scored a 58-ball 100 to help RR chase down a target of 183. He scored a 58-ball 100 to help RR chase down a target of 183.

Just when Buttler seemed to be back in form, he shattered all expectations with another single-digit score against Gujarat Titans. He was ruled out due to injury in the next match against Punjab Kings and returned to the side as an impact player against KKR to register a historic win. With none of the batters able to make 40, Buttler hung on till the end and scored his seventh IPL century - the second most by any batter in the league - ensuring that 'The Boss' will be there when all is against.

Buttler scored only 22 runs off the 21 balls he faced, hitting a solitary boundary, and his strike rate in the last six overs of the chase was 240.74. His century tally is only bettered by former RCB captain Virat Kohli's eight tons. He has now three centuries to his credit in chasing in the IPL, only Kohli and Ben Stokes have scored multiple centuries (2) in this category.