Jos Buttler and Sanju Samson produced one of Rajasthan Royals’ defining partnerships of IPL 2024 when they added 148 runs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru in Jaipur on April 6, 2024. The stand did not set an all-time IPL partnership record, but it was the partnership that transformed RR’s chase and helped them complete a six-wicket win.
The original version of this article described the 148-run stand as the “highest partnership in IPL 2024.” That wording was too broad. The official IPL match report confirms the partnership and its importance in this match; this updated article focuses on the verified result and performance rather than an outdated season-wide record claim.
What happened in RR vs RCB on April 6, 2024?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru batted first and reached 183/3 in 20 overs. Virat Kohli anchored the innings with an unbeaten 113 from 72 balls, while Faf du Plessis made 44 from 33. Their 125-run opening stand gave RCB a strong platform.
Rajasthan’s chase began badly when Yashasvi Jaiswal was dismissed on the second ball. That early wicket made the partnership between Buttler and captain Sanju Samson especially important.
According to the official IPL match report, Buttler and Samson added 148 runs from 86 balls. Their stand took Rajasthan from an immediate setback to a position from which the chase was under control.
Jos Buttler’s unbeaten century
Buttler finished on 100 not out from 58 balls. The innings was particularly notable because it came in his 100th IPL appearance and ended with a six that both completed his century and finished the chase.
After a quieter start to his 2024 campaign, Buttler’s innings showed why he remained such a dangerous T20 opener. He initially helped stabilise the chase, then accelerated as Rajasthan moved closer to the target.
Sanju Samson’s 69 from 42 balls
Samson scored 69 from 42 deliveries. His role complemented Buttler’s because he kept the required rate manageable while still attacking when scoring opportunities appeared.
The Rajasthan captain reached his fifty from 33 balls. Mohammed Siraj eventually dismissed him with 36 runs still required from 32 balls, but by then the partnership had already shifted the match heavily in RR’s favour.
Why the 148-run partnership mattered
The value of the stand was not simply its size. It solved several match problems at once:
- RR had lost Jaiswal almost immediately.
- The chase required 184 runs, so prolonged consolidation would have increased the required rate.
- Buttler and Samson had to rebuild without giving RCB’s bowlers control.
- The pair needed to keep scoring quickly enough that late wickets would not completely reopen the contest.
They managed that balance. Rajasthan reached 95/1 at the halfway point of the chase, putting themselves in a strong position without needing a desperate finish.
Was it really the highest partnership of IPL 2024?
The safest description is that it was a major 148-run partnership in Rajasthan Royals’ 2024 campaign and one of the standout stands of the match. Season-wide and franchise records can change as a tournament progresses, so articles written during a live season should avoid presenting a temporary leaderboard position as a permanent record unless the timeframe is clearly stated.
This is an important SEO lesson as well as a cricket one: sports articles age better when the title describes the match and verified performance rather than relying on a “highest ever” claim that may become outdated within days.
Virat Kohli’s 113 gave RCB a competitive total
Rajasthan’s chase should also be understood in the context of Kohli’s innings. He made 113 not out, his eighth IPL century at the time, and helped RCB reach 183/3.
That meant Buttler and Samson were not chasing a modest target. Their partnership had to keep pace with a total built around a century from one of the competition’s most experienced batters.
How Rajasthan completed the chase
After Samson was dismissed, RCB briefly created pressure by removing Riyan Parag and Dhruv Jurel cheaply. Buttler remained at the crease, however, and finished the job with Shimron Hetmyer.
Rajasthan reached the target with five balls remaining, winning by six wickets. Buttler was named Player of the Match.
What the partnership showed about T20 batting
The innings is a useful example of why partnerships in T20 cricket are about more than two batters attacking simultaneously. Good pairs often alternate roles depending on the bowler and match phase.
One batter can take greater risks while the other protects the partnership, then those roles can reverse. Strike rotation also prevents bowlers from settling against one matchup. Buttler and Samson’s stand worked because the scoring rate remained high without becoming reckless.
Where this fits in Rajasthan Royals’ 2024 season
The victory was Rajasthan’s fourth consecutive win to begin IPL 2024. The strong start placed the team among the early pace-setters and reinforced the importance of their top-order batting.
For more context on the tournament, see BCC’s Yuzvendra Chahal IPL 2024 review and our broader IPL 2024 season recap.
Frequently asked questions
How many runs did Buttler and Samson add against RCB?
They added 148 runs for the second wicket.
How many runs did Jos Buttler score?
Buttler scored an unbeaten 100 from 58 balls.
How many runs did Sanju Samson score?
Samson made 69 from 42 deliveries.
Who won RR vs RCB on April 6, 2024?
Rajasthan Royals won by six wickets with five balls remaining.