Sunil Narine, the spin wizard from Kolkata Knight Riders who is also their leading wicket-taker with 122 wickets averaging only 23.31 is hailed by former Australian batsman and KKR mentor David Hussey as ‘arguably the best spinner’ in T20 cricket.
Sunil Narine who also plays for the Trinbago Knight Riders in the Caribbean Premier League did not get many chances in the recently concluded league which his team won. He played only 5 matches and scored 144 runs besides taking 6 wickets. His average and economy rate was praiseworthy though. But he lost out as TKR has players like Lendl Simmons, Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Sikandar Raza, Khary Pierre, Fawad Ahmed, and skipper Kieron Pollard to name a few.
Sunil Narine. Image Credit: Getty Images.
Sunil Narine Is One Of The Best Players And Possibly Best T20 Bowler: David Hussey
Narine is KKR’s highest wicket-taker in the IPL with 122 wickets in 110 matches. The mystery spinner who debuted for KKR in 2012, has been also opening the batting as a power hitter for KKR since the last couple of seasons or so.
“Narine arguably is the best T20 bowler in the world. In any conditions, he is one of the best players to have. Fortunately, he is at KKR, and he’ll be at his most difficult self to play and handle,” the former Aussie all-rounder told PTI.
David Hussey, KKR. Credits – Getty
He tries to get KKR off to a flier if he opens the batting. But David Hussey, however, believes his main strength is bowling and he continues to be KKR’s prime bowler and a force to reckon with.
Sunil Narine Will Not Disappoint If Skipper Throws Ball To Him When Opposition Has Momentum
The right-arm off-spinner had bowling averages less than 20 in 2012,2013 and 2014 but after that neither could he pick 20 wickets or more nor could he pick 4 or 5 wickets while bowling. The mystery spinner emerged as one of the most successful bowlers in his debut season in 2012 as he picked up 24 wickets in 15 matches, which helped KKR win their first-ever IPL title.
“He will be one of the bowlers captain DK will throw the ball to whenever the opposition has the momentum. I’m sure Sunil Narine will win more often than not, those close battles,” Hussey said of the West Indian mystery spinner who bagged 10 wickets at an average of 34.70 last season.
Sunil Narine (Image Credit: Google)
Sunil Narine has been with KKR since the 2012 season when he was instrumental in the team winning its first IPL, a feat the franchise repeated in 2014. He modified bowling action after being reported for suspect action which however did not pay rich dividends as he picked up less than 20 wickets since 2015. But he is contributing with the bat since 2017 as he scored more than 140 runs in the last three seasons.
KKR will start their IPL 2020 campaign against defending champions Mumbai on September 23 in Abu Dhabi.
