IPL 2018: An in-form Jos Buttler goes berserk in an over from Shivam Mavi

The England wicketkeeper-batsman is seemingly in the form of his life at the moment.

Published - 16 May 2018, 15:19 IST | Updated - 16 May 2018, 15:19 IST

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Rajasthan Royals’ Jos Buttler is currently in the form of his life. 51, 82, 95*, 94* and 39 are the 27-year-old’s last five scores in IPL 11, and that speaks for the threat he can pose to even the best bowler in the business. The England cricketer has been hitting every bowler at will, and this time at the receiving end was Kolkata Knight Riders’ young bowler Shivam Mavi.

KKR beat Rajasthan by six wickets in their game from yesterday in Eden Gardens, and are now only one win away from qualifying for the playoffs. For Mavi, however, the match will be remembered not too fondly as Buttler hit him for 28 runs in a single over. 4,6,4,4,6,4 – this is how the expensive over unfolded. Mavi was earlier smashed for 29 runs by Delhi Daredevils skipper Shreyas Iyer at the Kotla.

Rajasthan’s sudden collapse

Buttler and fellow opener Rahul Tripathi gave the team a brilliant start, as they together posted 63 runs in the first 5 overs. However, everything went south for the Royals thereon, as they kept losing wickets in succession, and were bundled out for 142. Neither Ben Stokes nor Jofra Archer could produce an innings in the face of KKR’s, and especially Kuldeep Yadav’s scintillating bowling.

As for Buttler, he also saw himself being picked in the Test squad against Pakistan the same day, but unfortunately, his team is yet to qualify for the playoffs and will have to depend on the results of other teams to make their place certain in the top 4.

Playoff qualification scenario

KKR play their next game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad at the latter’s home ground. The Knights lost the Eden leg last month but will be hoping to bounce back at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, in what is a do or die game for them. If KKR wins, they go up on no. 2 on the points table. If they lose, they get knocked out of the tournament.