Sunil Narine, during the IPL 2024 match between KKR and RR, witnessed a proud mentor in Gautam Gambhir, who offered a cinematic one-liner to praise Narine after his maiden IPL century at the Eden Gardens on Tuesday.
Sunil Narine, with his makeshift opener role, received a special tribute from Knight Riders’ mentor Gautam Gambhir on social media, after he smashed his maiden Indian Premier League century on Tuesday. Lighting up the Eden Gardens, Narine’s remarkable 49-ball hundred culminated in a staggering 109 runs off just 56 balls, propelling KKR to a formidable total of 223 against Rajasthan in their IPL 2024 clash. Despite Narine’s exceptional effort, it fell short for the two-time champions to clinch victory as RR capitalized on a standout performance by Jos Buttler.
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“Gambhir’s Mentorship Sparks Narine’s Glorious Revival”
“Only one, there was, there is, there will be!” Gautam Gambhir declared, accompanying the statement with a photo capturing Sunil Narine’s jubilant celebration from Tuesday. Gambhir’s role in rejuvenating Narine as an opening batter for the Knight Riders has garnered widespread acclaim.
Displaying remarkable maturity with the bat, Sunil Narine strategically targeted the appropriate bowlers and relentlessly attacked the Rajasthan bowling lineup from the beginning to the end. He aggressively took on off-spinner R Ashwin, turning what seemed like a disadvantageous match-up into his favor on Tuesday. The former West Indies all-rounder showcased his prowess by smashing 6 sixes and 13 boundaries, joining the elite company of Brendon McCullum and Venkatesh Iyer as only the third KKR batter to achieve an IPL century.
“Narine’s Batting Resurgence: From Doubt to Dominance in IPL 2024”
In his post-innings interview, Narine was asked if he ever envisioned himself being in contention for the orange cap. Following his outstanding performance, he now sits third in the run-scoring charts for the season, amassing 361 runs at an impressive average of 72.2 and a striking rate of 147.35.
Reflecting on his achievement, Narine remarked, “I would have considered it a joke, given that I haven’t opened in such a long time or had significant batting contributions in the past.” His batting performances in the previous seasons had been lackluster, failing to surpass the 100-run mark in the last three seasons.
Acknowledging the support he received from his former captain turned mentor of the franchise, Gautam Gambhir, Narine attributed his batting resurgence to Gambhir’s backing since his return to the side. Narine expressed, “With GG (Gambhir) returning, he instilled confidence in me and assured me that I would open the batting.”
“Sunil Narine’s Resurgence: A Contender for the Orange Cap”
Sunil Narine’s performance this season has been nothing short of extraordinary, putting him in contention for the prestigious Orange Cap, awarded to the highest run-scorer. With a remarkable strike rate of 187, Narine has amassed 276 runs in just 6 matches, including a fifty and a hundred, establishing himself as the primary match-winner for the Knight Riders this year.
In addition to his batting prowess, Narine has also showcased his bowling skills, claiming 7 wickets in 6 matches at an impressive economy rate of 6.88. Notably, Narine’s resurgence as an opener began under Gambhir’s leadership in 2017, where he amassed 224 runs at a striking rate of 172.30.
However, in recent seasons, Narine was often utilized differently by the Knight Riders, foregoing his role as an opener. Fortunately, with Gambhir’s return to KKR as mentor, the team’s strategy has shifted back to deploying Narine at the top of the order, a tactical decision that has evidently paid dividends for the team.
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