Cricket

Sunil Narine, the enigmatic all-rounder for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), has emerged as a formidable force in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. His blistering performance in the Powerplay has propelled him to the top of the scoring charts, alongside Virat Kohli and Travis Head.Narine's blistering 71-run knock off just 32 deliveries against the Punjab Kings showcased his exceptional hitting prowess. The innings was studded with nine boundaries and four towering sixes, leaving the opposition bowlers in awe. This performance not only earned him the Player of the Match award but also cemented his position as one of the most dangerous batsmen in the tournament.Narine's Powerplay dominance has been a key factor in KKR's recent resurgence. He has amassed 204 runs in the Powerplay at an astonishing strike rate of 177.39, placing him third on the list behind Head and Kohli. His ability to find the boundary with ease has given KKR a solid foundation to build upon in the middle overs.In addition to his batting exploits, Narine has also made a significant contribution with the ball. His economical bowling has helped KKR restrict opposition teams to manageable totals. His all-round abilities make him an invaluable asset to the team, and he is undoubtedly one of the most influential players in the IPL.Narine's rise to prominence has been a testament to his hard work and dedication. He has consistently improved his batting skills, and his ability to clear the boundary with ease has made him a nightmare for bowlers. As the IPL progresses, Narine will be looking to continue his impressive form and help KKR challenge for the title.

West Indies Stars Narine and Russell's Bizarre IPL Schedule: Staying Up All Night, Sleeping During the DayFormer Pakistan pacer Wasim Akram has shed light on the unusual sleep patterns of West Indies cricketers Sunil Narine and Andre Russell during the Indian Premier League (IPL). Akram, who coached Narine and Russell at Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), revealed that the duo adheres to a nocturnal schedule while in India."When I was with KKR, I would wake up early for breakfast. Sunil Narine came for breakfast with swollen eyes. I asked him, 'Hey mate! What's happening?'" Akram recalled. "He said, 'I haven't slept.' I said, 'What do you mean you haven't slept?' He said, 'I am on West Indies time.'"Narine explained that he stays up all night and sleeps during the day in India, a practice that Russell also follows. This peculiar schedule stems from the significant time difference between India and the West Indies, which is 9 hours and 30 minutes.Despite their unconventional sleep habits, Narine and Russell have been instrumental in KKR's success. Narine has been a key contributor with both bat and ball, opening the batting and scoring 286 runs in the first seven matches. He has also taken nine wickets.Russell, on the other hand, has scored 155 runs and taken nine wickets in seven games. His explosive batting and all-round abilities have made him a valuable asset for KKR.Akram's revelation highlights the unique challenges faced by international cricketers who travel to different time zones for tournaments. While some players may struggle to adjust to the time difference, others, like Narine and Russell, have found ways to adapt and maintain their performance levels.

Sunil Narine, the enigmatic West Indian all-rounder, has unequivocally ruled out a return to international cricket, despite his exceptional form for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Narine, 35, has been in scintillating form, leading the tournament's MVP standings with a remarkable 109 not out from 56 balls against Rajasthan Royals last week, his maiden T20 century. He is also KKR's joint-leading wicket-taker, with nine scalps at an impressive economy rate of 7.10.Narine's resurgence has sparked calls for his recall to the West Indies squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in the Caribbean and USA. West Indies' T20I captain, Rovman Powell, has openly expressed his desire to have Narine back in the fold, but the off-spinner has remained adamant in his decision to stay retired.In a statement issued by KKR, Narine expressed his gratitude for the support and well wishes he has received but reiterated his decision to remain retired from international cricket. "I'm truly flattered and humbled that my performances recently have moved many people to publicly express their wish for me to come out of retirement and play in the upcoming T20 World Cup," Narine wrote. "I have made peace with that decision and whilst I never wish to disappoint, that door is now closed and I will be supporting the guys who take the field in June for West Indies."Narine's decision is a blow to West Indies' hopes of winning their third T20 World Cup title. The Caribbean side has struggled in recent years, failing to qualify for the Super 12 stage of the last two tournaments. Narine's experience and skill would have been invaluable to a team looking to make a deep run in their home tournament.However, Narine's decision is understandable. He has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and has expressed a desire to spend more time with his family. He has also been critical of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in the past, accusing them of mismanagement and a lack of support for players.Despite his absence from international cricket, Narine remains one of the most respected and feared players in the world. His performances in the IPL have shown that he is still capable of producing match-winning performances at the highest level.

Virat Kohli's hilarious antics during the IPL 2024 match between Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have set social media ablaze. In a moment that left both players and fans in stitches, Kohli mimicked WWE star The Undertaker's iconic "slit throat" gesture towards KKR opener Sunil Narine.The incident occurred after Kohli, who had initially given the impression that he would be bowling the first over for RCB, hilariously taunted Narine. The all-rounder had just hit a boundary off the first ball of the match, prompting Kohli to playfully replicate the Undertaker's signature move.The moment was captured on camera and quickly went viral, with fans praising Kohli's sense of humor and Narine's good-natured response. The gesture also served as a reminder of the camaraderie and lightheartedness that often exists between players on opposing teams.Earlier in the match, RCB made three changes to their playing XI, bringing in Cameron Green, Karn Sharma, and Mohammed Siraj. KKR, on the other hand, fielded an unchanged lineup.RCB skipper Faf du Plessis opted to chase after winning the toss, citing the favorable conditions for batting later in the evening. He expressed confidence in his team's ability to turn the momentum in their favor despite a recent string of losses.The match between RCB and KKR is a crucial one for both teams, as they look to improve their standings in the IPL 2024 points table. RCB currently sits in sixth place, while KKR is in eighth place.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season has witnessed a flurry of centuries and impressive bowling performances in its fourth week. Openers have dominated the batting charts, while bowlers have showcased their skills with economical spells and crucial wickets.Sunil Narine of Kolkata Knight Riders has been a standout performer, scoring 115 runs at an average of 57.50 and claiming three wickets at an economy rate of 5.88. Jos Buttler of Rajasthan Royals has also impressed with a century in his only match so far.Suryakumar Yadav of Mumbai Indians has been consistent with the bat, scoring 78 runs at an average of 39. Shivam Dube of Chennai Super Kings has made an impact with a quickfire 66* in his lone appearance.Rishabh Pant of Delhi Capitals has provided stability behind the stumps, scoring 57 runs at a strike rate of 162.86. Ashutosh Sharma of Punjab Kings has been a revelation, scoring 92 runs at a remarkable strike rate of 209.09.On the bowling front, Pat Cummins of Sunrisers Hyderabad has led the way with three wickets at an average of 14.33 and an economy rate of 10.75. Kuldeep Yadav of Delhi Capitals and Jasprit Bumrah of Mumbai Indians have also claimed three wickets each.Avesh Khan of Rajasthan Royals has been economical with four wickets at an average of 17.25 and an economy rate of 8.63. Matheesha Pathirana of Chennai Super Kings has impressed with four wickets at an average of 7 and an economy rate of 7.Heinrich Klaasen of Sunrisers Hyderabad has made a significant impact as an impact substitute, scoring 67 runs at a strike rate of 216.13.Under the guidance of coach Ricky Ponting, Delhi Capitals have emerged as a strong contender, with their players featuring prominently in the Team of the Week.

Sunil Narine's remarkable transformation as an opener for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) has been attributed to the strategic vision of team mentor Gautam Gambhir. Narine's maiden T20 century, a blistering 56-ball 109 against Rajasthan Royals, has solidified his status as a formidable force at the top of the order.Prior to this season, Narine had struggled to make an impact in the lower middle order, amassing only 154 runs over the past three seasons. However, Gambhir's decision to promote him to the opening slot has unlocked his potential, with Narine already accumulating 276 runs in just six games.After his historic century at the Eden Gardens, Narine acknowledged Gambhir's role in his resurgence. "You can see the way Narine is batting this time. In every match, he's making runs, opening the batting and that was his (Gambhir's) idea only," said KKR teammate Rinku Singh.Narine's success as an opener is not entirely new. Under Gambhir's captaincy in 2017, he smashed the IPL's fastest fifty in 15 balls, a record that has since been broken. Narine also holds the record for the fastest 50 in the Bangladesh Premier League, with a 13-ball half-century for Comilla Victorians in 2022.Rinku Singh believes that Narine's transformation is not due to any significant technical changes, but rather a result of his hard work and improved patience. "He's more patient now. Earlier he used to swing his bat to every ball, now he has restrained himself and playing according to the merit of the ball. He is batting thoughtfully and wisely," said Rinku.Despite Narine's heroics, KKR fell short against Rajasthan Royals, with Jos Buttler's unbeaten 107 guiding the Royals to an eight-wicket victory. However, Rinku remains optimistic about the team's prospects. "Our team is doing very well. We are not thinking much (about the loss). Credit to RR they did well. Also, you need a bit of luck in your favour. It was there day. Buttler innings was the turning point. Full credit goes to him," said Rinku.While the KKR top order has been firing on all cylinders, Rinku, who was the team's leading run-getter in IPL 2023 with 474 runs, has had limited opportunities. This season, he has scored 83 runs at an impressive strike rate of 184-plus, but is yet to register a half-century."Our top order batters are doing so well that I'm not getting much opportunities to show my batting this time," said Rinku. However, he remains confident that he will be back to his best soon. "I had a niggle, I will be back to playing the full match against RCB on Sunday," he said.

Rajasthan Royals' remarkable run in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 continued on Tuesday as they pulled off a thrilling two-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Eden Gardens. The win propelled RR to the top of the standings with 12 points, putting them on the cusp of securing a playoff berth.The match witnessed two scintillating centuries from KKR's Sunil Narine (109 off 56) and RR's Jos Buttler (107 off 60). However, it was a spectacular fielding effort by Avesh Khan that stole the show.In the fourth over of KKR's innings, Khan outstretched his arm to grab a stunning catch off Phil Salt's shot. The improbability of the catch, coupled with Khan's subsequent celebration with Sanju Samson, made it an unforgettable moment.This catch was particularly significant given Khan's frustration with Samson during RR's previous match against Punjab Kings. In that game, Samson ignored Khan's call for a catch, leading to a dropped opportunity. Khan's frustration was evident, and the catch against KKR seemed to be a redemption of sorts.KKR, batting first, posted a formidable 223/6 thanks to Narine's blistering knock. RR's chase got off to a shaky start, but Buttler's heroics turned the tide. The English opener played a match-winning innings, hitting 10 fours and 6 sixes to guide his team to victory.The win was a testament to RR's resilience and determination. Despite losing early wickets, they never gave up and fought back valiantly. Buttler's century was a masterclass in batting, while Khan's catch showcased the team's fielding prowess.With just a few games remaining in the league stage, RR is well-positioned to secure a playoff spot. Their impressive performances have made them one of the favorites to lift the IPL 2024 trophy.

Sunil Narine's remarkable transformation as an opener for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the ongoing IPL season has been attributed to the guidance of team mentor Gautam Gambhir. Narine's impressive performance at the top of the order, amassing 276 runs in six games, stands in stark contrast to his previous three seasons, where he scored only 154 runs while batting lower in the order.After his memorable century at Eden Gardens, Narine acknowledged Gambhir's role in making him open for the first time since 2017. Teammates like Rinku Singh have also reiterated this sentiment, stating, "You can see the way Narine is batting this time. In every match, he's making runs, opening the batting and that was his (Gambhir's) idea only."Narine's transformation as a batsman is evident in his improved stroke-making and patience at the crease. Rinku attributed this change to Narine's hard work in the nets, saying, "Nothing much has changed. It's the result of his sheer hard work at the nets." He also noted that Narine has become more thoughtful and wise in his approach, playing according to the merit of the ball.Despite Narine's impressive century, Rajasthan Royals emerged victorious, thanks to Jos Buttler's unbeaten 107 off 60 balls. Rinku acknowledged Buttler's innings as the turning point and credited Rajasthan Royals for their performance. He also mentioned that luck played a role in the outcome of the match.With KKR's top-order performing well this season, Rinku, who was their leading run-getter in IPL 2023, has had fewer opportunities to showcase his batting skills. However, he maintains a strike rate of over 184 and is confident of returning to playing full matches after recovering from a niggle that limited him to the role of an Impact Sub in the previous game.

Sunil Narine, the enigmatic West Indian spinner, has hinted at a potential return to international cricket for the T20 World Cup in 2024. Narine, who announced his retirement from international cricket in November 2023, has been coaxed by West Indies T20I captain Rovman Powell to reconsider his decision.After hitting a magnificent century for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Narine hinted at a possible change of heart. "It is what it is, but let's see what the future holds," Narine said when asked about his retirement decision.Powell has been persistent in his efforts to convince Narine to return, revealing that he has been "whispering in his ears" for the past 12 months. "I've asked [Kieron] Pollard, [Dwayne] Bravo, [Nicholas] Pooran. Hopefully, before they select the team, they can crack his code," Powell said.Powell himself played a crucial role in Rajasthan Royals' victory over Kolkata Knight Riders, hitting 26 off 13 balls at a crucial stage of the chase. He praised the team management for their communication and support, even when he was not playing.Powell also revealed that he has been lobbying for a batting promotion, likening his batting position to that of his role in the West Indies team. "I told them, 'hey, I bat at No. 4 or 5 for West Indies and if you think West Indies is a good T20 side, then you can push me up the order," he said.The emotions at the end of the match were described by Powell as a "roller-coaster ride" as Royals pulled off the highest successful chase in IPL history. He admitted that he had not planned to take on Narine but reacted to the situation and backed his strengths.