On April 16, during an intense IPL 2024 match at the Eden Gardens, Jos Buttler’s incredible century helped the Rajasthan Royals (RR) defeat the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by two wickets. All praise was given to the English opener for his valiant efforts, but former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh had harsh words for young Riyan Parag’s methods.
Thanks to an outstanding 109 from Sunil Narine, KKR scored an enormous 223/6 on the scoreboard. In response, after 13 overs, RR appeared to be out of the game at 121/6. Buttler, however, stood his ground at one end and carried his team across the finish line by himself with an undefeated 107 off just 60 balls.
Harbhajan praised Buttler’s poise and ability to win games. “Buttler is an exceptional player. He is a player on a separate plane. He’s cool and collected. He took advantage of opportunities to hit sixes, fours, singles, and doubles. It’s crucial to keep your bat and focus on your own game while other players are getting out, the former off-spinner told Star Sports.
Many children have plenty to learn from Buttler’s innings: Harbhajan Singh
The 43-year-old also emphasized the need to persevere through to the very end to lead the squad to victory—something that the youthful Riyan Parag was unable to do. Despite Parag amassing a quick 34 off just 14 balls, Harshit Rana mercilessly dismissed him.
“Buttler’s innings should serve as a lesson to many young people. Riyan is an accomplished athlete. Though this is how matches are won, he scored 34 runs. You have to hold the fort and be present,” Harbhajan continued.
The seasoned politician emphasized the significance of having a well-defined strategy and the capacity to stick to it when things get tough.
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“You play with the right mentality, knowing which stroke to play against which bowler. Jos Buttler has previously engaged in this behavior. He has done this on multiple occasions, and I have no doubt that he will continue to do so on a regular basis going forward. The former spinner remarked, “He is one of the game’s legends.”
The Sanju Samson-led team, which has six wins out of seven games to lead the points table, will play the Mumbai Indians in Jaipur on April 22.