Sunil nostrum in action in IPL 2025© BCCI / SPORTZPICS
Sunil Narine is widely considered one of the biggest players to put on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) jersey. Now 36 years old, Narine has gone from a mystery spinner to a multidimensional versatile, having helped KKR win three titles of the Indian Premier (IPL) and won three prizes of the most precious player (MVP). However, the former KKR player, Manvinder Bisla – who played with him in the winning teams of 2012 and 2014 – revealed that the secret of Narine’s success was that he had never played in the nets.
“He (nostril) would not be part of strikers in the nets. First, he had no interest in bowling in the Nets. Second, he did not want to be read by strikers who could end up playing for another franchise a few years later,” revealed Bisla, speaking of ”Knuckleball by NDTV‘ podcast.
“When I was as a counter for KKR, I had to ask him for deliveries of 12 or 13 years so that I could read his variations, because I was I who had to catch them and make a powder. If I could not recover it and the ball was beating both the striker and myself, it would be without use,” said humorous bisla.
“After playing 10 to 12 balls, I could understand one thing (about variations in nostril)!” Said Bisla.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aecckdvpu8u
Narine has played a crucial role in KKR’s success over the years. After entering the IPL as a young mystery spinner who was difficult to read, he has now evolved as a powerful versatile that contributes to the two facets of the game.
In IPL 2024, Narine won the MVP prize by a distance while KKR has reactivated to a victory in the dominant title. Narine broke 488 points at a strike rate of more than 180 and picked up 17 counters in an stingy saving of 6.69.
In IPL 2025, Narine once again showed her courage with the bats and the ball. Narine slammed 125 points at a striking pace of almost 190, while taking five counters in as many games.
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