T20 cricket is lethal and when it comes to it, there are players who shine brightly and leave a mark with their exceptional skills. One such player who has carved a niche for himself in the world of T20 cricket is none other than Sunil Narine.
Sunil Narine a force to be reckoned with on the T20 field. The man who started his career as a proper spin bowler is now a fearless all-rounder who is sending bowlers to the cleaners and his scaring the batsmen. What makes him so dangerous, let’s find out.
Low economy rate – T20 has changed. It is not the same game that was played 15-20 years ago. Gone are the days when 180-190 was considered as a good competitive score. Nowadays teams are hitting more than 220 in every single match for fun.
In these conditions, it is inevitable that bowlers will have an economy rate of 10-11 per over but not Sunil Narine. One of the standout qualities that make Sunil Narine a deadly T20 all-rounder is his remarkable ability to maintain a low economy rate. Narine is skill in keeping the opposition on a tight leash sets him apart from others.
He is still giving just 6 or mere 7 runs per over at the most. With his clever variations and pinpoint accuracy, Narine consistently puts pressure on batsmen by restricting their scoring opportunities. His disciplined approach to bowling ensures that he doesn't give away easy runs and forces batsmen to take risks against him.
Destructive opening batting – It was Kolkata Knight Riders who decided to send Sunil as an opener one day and the rest is history. When it comes to Sunil Narine's T20 game, his destructive opening batting is a force to be reckoned with. He doesn't just walk out to the crease; he announces his presence with authority. With his fearless approach and powerful hitting ability, he can change the momentum of a match within just a few overs.
The thing is, he does not care about losing his wicket and focuses on giving a good start. Narine's aggressive style of play puts bowlers on edge right from the start. His ability to find gaps in the field and clear boundaries consistently keeps opposition captains awake at night.
Mystery spin bowling – The best thing about Sunil Narine is his mystery bowling which the batsmen have still not decoded. Sunil Narine's mystery spin bowling has left many batsmen scratching their heads and walking back to the pavilion in disbelief. His ability to disguise his deliveries with subtle variations in pace and trajectory keeps even the best batters on their toes.
The element of surprise is his greatest weapon on the field, making it almost impossible for opponents to predict what ball is coming next. Narine's deceptive action adds another layer of complexity to his already enigmatic spin arsenal. Batsmen struggle to pick up the variations from his hand, often falling victim to mistimed shots or getting clean bowled.
Brave powerplay hitting – No matter who is the bowler at the other end, the West Indian all-rounder doesn't shy away from taking on the bowlers right from the start of the innings. Narine's ability to clear the boundary with ease makes him a nightmare for opposition teams in the early stages of the game. His aggressive mindset puts pressure on bowlers and often sets the tone for his team's innings.
Sunil Narine's ability to bring unpredictability to the game is what truly sets him apart as a T20 allrounder. His unique combination of skills makes it challenging for opponents to predict his next move, whether he's batting aggressively at the top of the order or bamboozling batsmen with his mystery spin bowling.
