Performance of Sunil Narine-Andre Russell under IPL 2024's Spotlight:
Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and mentor Gautam Gambhir could form a formidable triangle of doom against other IPL teams in the coming days. KKR's decision to entrust their old guard this IPL season is already seeing results with Gambhir's return. Gambhir's serious approach seems to be paying dividends early on. Sunil Narine has been turning heads with his batting, while Andre Russell is blowing away the competition with his sheer 'muscle power'. This shapes up a hopeful future for KKR to make considerable strides in IPL 2024, a title they last won in 2014 under Gambhir's captaincy.
On social media, cricket fans are suggesting that having Gambhir in the team is a gamechanger, with Russell and Narine acting as masterstrokes this season. Some fans also believe that KKR's transformed appearance is all Gambhir's doing. So far, Kolkata's team, owned by Shah Rukh Khan, has played three matches in the IPL and has won all, rocketing them to the top of the points table. In all three games, seasoned players Russell and Narine have looked in terrific form.
Russell has played three matches with a remarkable average of 105 runs while maintaining a striking rate of 238.64. Additionally, Russell has also claimed 3 wickets. His West Indian colleague Sunil Narine is smashing it this season with the bat, amassing 134 runs at an average of 44.67 and a strike rate of 206.15.
The duo shone in the match against Delhi. Narine scored 85 runs off 39 balls, including 7 fours and as many sixes. He also clinched a wicket in his 4-over spell, conceding 29 runs, earning him the 'Player of the Match' title. Meanwhile, Andre Russell smashed 41 runs off just 19 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes, also picking up a wicket later on.
It's noteworthy that Sunil Narine had been a part of the final playing XI in both the years KKR won the title under Gambhir's leadership—2012 and 2014.
Source: aajtak
Gautam Gambhir Turns Sunil Narine into a Pinch Hitter in IPL
At 35, Sunil Narine has opened in all three IPL matches this season, a strategy driven by Gambhir's decision-making. Narine's trust in his skills was duly rewarded as he posted the highest score of his 501 T20 matches against the Delhi Capitals, making his previous best of 79 runs in 2017 against Barbados Tridents a memory.
KKR scored 88 runs in the powerplay against Delhi, which stands as their second-highest total in all IPL history. Notably, on both record-setting occasions, the opener was Sunil Narine, affirming Gambhir's confidence in his batting abilities.
Will Sunil Narine Repeat His Stellar 2018 Performance?
In 2018, Narine's performance as a batsman peaked as he clocked 357 runs over 16 matches. If trends continue and Narine plays like we're seeing, he could very well surpass his own record, considering his overall batting stats in 165 IPL matches stand at 1180 runs scored with a strike rate of 163.89.
Russell's Show of Muscle Power
At 35, Andre Russell played for Delhi in 2012 and 2013, and continuously for Kolkata from 2014 to 2024. He had sat out the 2017 season, but returns in formidable form this IPL. As the 'Player of the Match' against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their opening game, he played a dazzling 64-run knock off 25 balls that included 3 fours and 7 sixes. Russell is being groomed as a finisher by Gambhir, which is clearly reflected in his gameplay, especially in his powerhouse innings against Delhi.
So, with Gambhir at the helm, is it any surprise that players like Narine and Russell are exuding confidence?
