Kolkata, 17 May (H.S.): Former Indian batsman Ambati Rayudu believes that Sunil Narine is the greatest player in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). According to Rayudu, facing Narine has always been an extremely difficult challenge for any batter.

Narine played a crucial role in Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) 29-run victory over Gujarat Titans at Eden Gardens Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday. The veteran all-rounder claimed two wickets for 29 runs in his four-over spell and was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ title for his outstanding performance. The match also marked Narine’s 200th appearance in the IPL.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s “Timeout” show, Rayudu described Narine as a phenomenal match-winner with both bat and ball. He said that while the IPL has featured many exceptional cricketers over the years, Narine has always stood apart from the rest. In his view, Narine ranks at the very top of that elite list.

Rayudu further explained that, from a batter’s perspective, facing a bowler like Sunil Narine is always challenging because the ball tends to hold up on the pitch. As a result, batsmen often lose their balance and struggle to execute their shots properly.

In the list of highest wicket-takers in IPL history, Narine currently occupies the third position behind Yuzvendra Chahal (230 wickets) and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (220 wickets). Narine has taken 205 wickets in the tournament so far. He is also the foreign player with the most appearances in IPL history. Narine has been associated with Kolkata Knight Riders since 2012.

Talking about the match, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a massive total of 247 for 2 in their allotted 20 overs after opting to bat first. In response, Gujarat Titans could manage only 218 for 4. Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan scored half-centuries for Gujarat, but their efforts were not enough to secure victory.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar