Sunil Narine really stole the show during the recent IPL match where the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced off against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He put on quite a performance, scoring a quickfire 44 runs off just 18 balls. Plus, he was outstanding with the ball, taking 3 wickets for only 13 runs in his four overs. This impressive effort led KKR to an easy eight-wicket victory over CSK at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.
The pitch wasn’t just a regular surface; it had that black soil which allowed the KKR spinners to shine right from the start. Along with Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy and Moeen Ali joined the party, combining for six wickets as CSK struggled to find their rhythm. In the end, CSK only managed to post a meager score of 103 runs for 9 wickets, marking their lowest total in the IPL at this venue.
When KKR batted, Narine’s fireworks at the beginning, coupled with the CSK bowlers often bowling a tad too full, meant that KKR didn’t break a sweat in chasing down that low total. They finished the game with a whopping 59 balls remaining. For his all-round performance, Narine bagged the player of the match award.
Quinton de Kock, KKR’s wicket-keeper, sang praises for Narine and also for his teammate Varun Chakravarthy, who took two wickets during the match. De Kock explained how crucial their different bowling styles are for the team. The toughest part is the variety they offer. They both bowl in a way that keeps everyone guessing. Batters find it tricky to settle in since you never really know what’s being thrown your way. On top of that, they focus on accuracy and always strive to improve their skills, he said during the post-match interview.
He also mentioned Narine’s explosive batting, where Narine hit two fours and five huge sixes. “Narine definitely adds that spark to our batting lineup. Every bowler knows he’s coming in to go big right from the first ball. He really dedicates himself to his practice and never skips out, even when it’s optional. When he starts well, it sets the right vibe for our chase,” De Kock explained.
With this impressive win, the Knight Riders climbed to third place in the league standings and are looking forward to their next match against Punjab Kings (PBKS), led by their former captain Shreyas Iyer. That game is set to take place at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on April 15, a Thursday.
