Sunil Narine, who joined Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, is hailed as one of the finest T20 cricketers. He played a pivotal role in KKR’s triumph over Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2024 final, being the only player to feature in all three IPL-winning campaigns for KKR (2012 and 2014).
In IPL 2024, Narine opened alongside Phil Salt in the league phase and with Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the playoffs and final. He showcased exceptional form, scoring 488 runs in 14 matches at a strike rate of 180.74, including a century and three fifties. Additionally, he excelled in bowling, claiming 17 wickets in 15 matches.
Narine’s resurgence was aided by the return of Gautam Gambhir as team mentor. Speaking about their bond, Gambhir revealed their initial interaction, highlighting Narine’s shy demeanour and their subsequent close relationship. Gambhir shared, “He was so quiet that first season, but now, we can talk about anything. He is like a brother to me. I don’t see him as a friend, I don’t see him as a teammate, I see him as a brother. If I need him or he needs me, I think we are just one call away, that is the sort of relationship that we have built. We do not get excited much, we do not show too many emotions, we are not flamboyant, we just do the job and come back.”
Narine’s evolution was evident not just in his cricketing prowess but also in his personal growth. Gambhir reminisced about Narine’s initial shyness, recalling an amusing incident during their first encounter in 2012. Narine, who barely uttered a word during lunch, surprised Gambhir with his first question: “Can I bring my girlfriend to the IPL?”
Narine also received the MVP award for his contributions this season. It will be interesting to see if KKR retain him, and if he enters the mega auction, it will be a mega bidding war.
