Introduction 

The IPL 2022 season was different. Ten teams instead of eight, a new group-stage format, new franchises with new narratives. And amidst all of it, one batsman who simply played a different sport from everyone else. Jos Buttler, the England wicketkeeper-batsman, had been a reliable IPL performer for Rajasthan Royals for years — good enough, consistent enough, but not historic. Then 2022 happened. In one season, Buttler scored 4 centuries — more centuries than any batsman in a single IPL season, before or since. He scored 863 runs. He averaged 57. He carried Rajasthan Royals to the IPL final almost single-handedly. 

Century One, Two, Three, Four — The Sequence That Defined a Season 

Buttler’s four centuries came at intervals across the season, each one arriving at a moment when Rajasthan needed it most. His first — against Mumbai Indians — showed the pattern. He came in early, played himself in carefully, and then shifted gears so completely that bowlers ran out of ideas before they ran out of overs. His second century, against Kolkata Knight Riders, was even more dominant. His third, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, included a passage of hitting that the broadcasters replayed multiple times simply because the strokeplay was beautiful as well as effective. His fourth century — against Gujarat Titans in the playoff stage — is still discussed as one of the best T20 innings in the competition’s history. Four centuries. Same format. Same tournament. One batsman. The record that still stands. 

The Partnership With Sanju Samson That Powered the Royals 

Buttler did not win matches alone. His opening partnership with Rajasthan Royals captain Sanju Samson was arguably the IPL 2022’s most effective batting combination. Samson’s fluency and power complemented Buttler’s precision and timing. When both were at the crease simultaneously, the combination of two players who could each individually destroy any bowling attack created match situations where the opposition had no good option. Samson scored 458 runs that season himself — finishing just below what would normally be an award-winning total, simply because Buttler was doing something extraordinary at the other end. The Royals’ whole batting philosophy that season was built on the assumption that Buttler would provide 50-70 runs in most matches. When he provided 100, as he did four times, Rajasthan were effectively unbeatable. 

The Final They Didn’t Win — and Why the Season Matters Anyway 

Rajasthan Royals reached the 2022 IPL final against Gujarat Titans — a team that had been in the competition for just one season and were appearing in their first ever final. Rajasthan lost by 7 wickets. Buttler scored 39. After all those centuries, all that dominance, the season ended without the trophy. Cricket does this sometimes — produces an individual performance of such overwhelming quality and then withholds the reward that should logically follow. Buttler’s 2022 season is remembered as one of the finest individual batting seasons in T20 cricket history, regardless of the final result. The four centuries are permanent. The 863 runs are permanent. The Orange Cap he won is permanent. Trophies are won by teams; records are owned by individuals. 

DID YOU KNOW?  Buttler’s 4 centuries in IPL 2022 is a record shared with only one other batsman — Virat Kohli, who also scored 4 centuries in the 2016 season. No batsman before or since has scored more than 4 centuries in a single IPL season. 

Final Verdict  Jos Buttler in IPL 2022 was unstoppable. Four centuries. 863 runs. An Orange Cap. A final appearance. Everything except the trophy. The IPL produces seasons like this rarely — one batsman, one competition, an entire country watching, completely unable to look away.