On Tuesday, April 16, during the match between the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and the Rajasthan Royals (RR), opener Sunil Narine hit his first IPL century. The scorching 109 that Narine scored in just 56 balls this season is the highlight of his incredible comeback as a batsman.
Gautam Gambhir, who coaches KKR, deserves all the credit for Narine’s increased self-assurance as an opener. Narine was moved up the order upon Gambhir’s return to the team, and the move has paid off nicely for the team. After giving a stellar performance, Narine thanked Gambhir, highlighting how the mentor gave him confidence that he could succeed in this role.
“It was probably a prank, since I hadn’t opened the bat in a few years. I had previously, but I wasn’t convinced. With GG’s return, I feel more confident and assured that I will succeed. I had to get the team off to a strong start. Giving a good start is the job, no matter what the circumstances. We know what the pitch is about. It will not be simple. Utilizing the powerplay is imperative. As reported by India Today, Narine stated, “Try to pick wickets and limit them to as low a total as possible.”
In addition to bringing Narine to the forefront, his outstanding inning has placed him third in the Orange Cap rankings, behind only Virat Kohli and Riyan Parag. Despite his exceptional play, Narine maintains his composure and recognizes the difficulties that lie ahead.
When asked about the impending T20 World Cup, Narine made a joke regarding his uncertain international career and mentioned that he would be watching it from home.
He is a valuable member of the team, and he shows it each game: Shreyas Iyer
Following the match, KKR captain Shreyas Iyer said that the game was difficult to digest, comparing the feelings to being on a roller coaster. He thought Sunil Narine was an invaluable member of the team and praised his outstanding work. Iyer considered how difficult it may be to bowl to Narine under duress and stressed the value of growing from failures and getting back up. He expressed pride in his team’s performance in spite of the loss.
Was playing this game like swallowing a harsh pill? I completely agree that our feelings were like riding a roller coaster; we never imagined that we would find ourselves in this predicament. He was hitting the ball cleanly and timing them so beautifully that, in the end, it’s a funny game. You just have to accept it and move on. You see, at this point in the tournament, that you are bowling your finest deliveries, a little bit hit or miss, and you get knocked off the ground. It’s fortunate that this happened now rather than later in the competition; it teaches us a valuable lesson.
Also read: Rovman Powell in reference to persuading Sunil Narine to participate in the T20 World Cup
“About Sunil Narine: He is a fantastic player who makes the most of every opportunity, and he proves this in every game. His presence on our squad makes me happy. It’s high pressure when you have five fielders inside the circle; you essentially don’t know where to bowl. He was striking the ball so well, so I decided to slow it down and give it to Chakaravarthy. It’s all about unwinding and revitalizing, and today was really muggy as well. Resilience and learning from our mistakes are crucial. We’re taking a few days off. Ultimately, it was an excellent game with a few close overs, but overall, Iyer expressed his pride in the youngsters.
India
