Ambati Rayudu hails Sunil Narine as ‘greatest IPL player ever’ after heroics against GT
Ambati Rayudu After the announcement, a big debate of IPL has been sparked. Sunil Narayan As the greatest player in the history of the tournament.Narine, who retired from international cricket in 2023 after representing the West Indies for the last time in 2019, has been dominating the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders. His influence on the franchise extended to his debut season in 2012, when KKR won their first IPL title in which Narine played a pivotal role. The spinner took 24 wickets in 15 matches this year while maintaining an impressive economy rate of 5.47.He had another title-winning campaign in 2014, taking 21 wickets in 16 matches at an economy of 6.35. Narine proved decisive again during KKR’s third IPL victory two years ago, contributing both with bat and ball. Along with 17 wickets at an economy of 6.69 in 15 matches, he scored 488 runs at a strike rate of 180.74, including a century and three fifties.Speaking at the ESPNcricinfo timeout, Rayudu praised Narine’s all-round impact on matches.“According to me, the best IPL player ever. A proper match-winner with the ball and the bat. There have been many great players in the IPL, but this guy always stands out. He tops the list for me,” Rayudu said.In IPL 2026 as well, Narine has been effective as always. The veteran spinner has taken 13 wickets in 11 matches at an economy rate of 6.70 despite batting conditions becoming increasingly favorable in modern T20 cricket.His latest performance came during KKR’s win over Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens, marking his 200th IPL appearance. Narine returned figures of 2/29 in four overs and was instrumental in the restriction. Shabman Gultowards during pursuit of 248. On a night heavily tilted towards the batsmen, Narine’s spell was enough to earn him the player of the match award once again.
