Can Jos Buttler break Virat Kohli’s record in IPL 2022 final?

Rajasthan Royals opener has been in white-hot form this season – but the runs record will likely be just beyond him

TOP RUN-SCORERS IN AN IPL SEASON: 1. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2016) 973 runs, 81.08 average, 152.03 strike rate. Finishing 27 runs short of 1,000 in an IPL season was an extraordinary feat by a great who was at the peak of his powers .AFP

2. David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2016) 845 runs, 60.57 average, 151.42 strike rate. Scoring nearly 850 runs and still not topping the run scoring charts for that season must have really stung. AFP

3. Jos Buttler (Rajasthan Royals, 2022) 824 runs, 58.85 average, 151.47 strike rate. Buttler has matched Kohli’s record of four centuries in a season. He even managed to have a lull halfway through the season. Sportzpics for IPL

4. Kane Williamson (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2018) 735 runs, 52.50 average, 142.44 strike rate. Like with Warner two years earlier, Williamson’s vast haul did not include a century. But he did pass 50 eight times. AP

5. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2012) 733 runs, 61.08 average, 160.74 strike rate. “The Bradman of T20” managed the most belligerent strike rate over the course of a season of anyone in this list. AP

6. Mike Hussey (Chennai Super Kings, 2013) 733 runs, 52.35 average, 129.50 strike rate. The Australian was not necessarily known as a T20 big-hitter during his career, but he was remarkably consistent for CSK in 2013. AP

7. Chris Gayle (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2013) 708 runs, 59 average, 156.29 strike rate. Gayle revised what was thought possible from batters during a season. It included more sixes than fours, and a top score of 175 not out.

8. David Warner (Sunrisers Hyderabad, 2019) 692 runs, 69.20 average, 143.86 strike rate. Only Kohli in this list has managed his runs at a better average over the course of a season than Warner did three years ago.

9. AB de Villiers (Royal Challengers Bangalore, 2016) 687 runs, 52.84 average, 168.79 strike rate. Without a winner’s medal in his IPL career, but few players thrilled more than the great South African. AFP

10. Rishabh Pant (Delhi Daredevils, 2018) 684 runs, 52.61 average, 173.60 strike rate. The wicketkeeper is the second highest Indian runscorer over the course of a single season after Kohli. AFP

Amid all the backslapping and celebrating after Rajasthan Royals sealed their place in the IPL final with a win over Royal Challengers Bangalore on Friday night, Jos Buttler and Virat Kohli shared an embrace.

Buttler had his arm around the Indian batting great. It looked as though he might have been consoling him on Bangalore’s exit, and also suggesting he consign this season to Room 101, given Kohli’s struggles.

Alternatively, he might have been saying: I’m coming for your record.

Probably not, of course. The Englishman would need to score a neat, round 150 in Sunday’s final against Gujarat Titans to break Kohli’s record for runs in one IPL season.

Even by Buttler’s remarkable form, that seems pretty far-fetched, but there is no denying he has enjoyed one of the finest ever campaigns by an individual batter.

The top run-getters in an IPL season over the years can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.