Sunil Narine is a name that is well-known in the cricketing world. He is a Trinidadian cricketer who has made a name for himself as a specialist spinner in the game. Narine is known for his unique bowling style, which has baffled many batsmen over the years. In this article, we will take a closer look at the life and career of Sunil Narine.
Early Life and Career
Sunil Philip Narine was born on May 26, 1988, in Arima, Trinidad, and Tobago. He grew up in a cricketing family and was exposed to the game from a young age. His father, Shadeed Narine, was a cricketer who played for the Arima Cricket Club. Narine was a talented athlete and excelled in many sports, including football, basketball, and cricket.
Narine made his first-class debut for Trinidad and Tobago in 2009, where he played as a specialist off-spinner. He quickly established himself as a reliable bowler, taking 24 wickets in his debut season. Narine’s performances caught the attention of the selectors, and he was called up to the West Indies squad for the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup.
International Career
Narine made his international debut for the West Indies in a T20 match against Australia in 2011. He made an immediate impact, taking two wickets for just 19 runs in his four overs. Narine was selected for the 2012 ICC World Twenty20, where he played a crucial role in the West Indies victory. He finished the tournament as the leading wicket-taker, taking 12 wickets in 5 matches.
Narine’s success in the T20 format earned him a place in the West Indies ODI squad, where he made his debut against India in 2011. He continued to impress with his unique bowling style, taking 24 wickets in his first 9 matches. Narine’s performances earned him a spot in the West Indies Test squad, where he made his debut against England in 2012.
Narine’s performances in the Test format were not as impressive as in the shorter formats of the game. He struggled to make an impact with the ball and was dropped from the Test squad in 2013. However, Narine continued to perform well in the T20 and ODI formats, and he was a regular member of the West Indies squad in these formats.
IPL Career
Narine’s performances in the international arena caught the attention of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises. He was picked up by the Kolkata Knight Riders in the 2012 IPL auction for $700,000. Narine made an immediate impact in the IPL, taking 24 wickets in his debut season and helping the Kolkata Knight Riders to win the title.
Narine continued to perform well in the IPL, and he played a crucial role in the Kolkata Knight Riders’ victories in 2014 and 2019. He has taken 125 wickets in 120 matches in the IPL, with an impressive economy rate of 6.76 runs per over.
Style of Play
Sunil Narine is known for his unique bowling style, which is a combination of off-spin and mystery spin. Narine bowls with a finger-flick action, which makes it difficult for the batsmen to read the ball out of his hand. He also bowls a variety of deliveries, including the off-break, the doosra, and the knuckleball.
