At a glance
- Sunil Narine starred with figures of 2 for 29 against Gujarat Titans
- Ambati Rayudu called Narine the best IPL player of all time
- Sanjay Bangar said no batter has dominated Narine in 13 years
Sunil Narine once again underlined his status as one of the IPL’s greatest ever match winners as Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Gujarat Titans by 29 runs in IPL 2026 at Eden Gardens. View the full scorecard here.
The veteran all-rounder returned figures of 2 for 29 from his four overs in his landmark 200th IPL appearance, helping KKR tighten their grip on the contest after posting a formidable total.
His performance sparked glowing tributes from former India players Ambati Rayudu and Sanjay Bangar, who both hailed Narine’s extraordinary longevity and influence in the tournament.
Rayudu crowns Narine as IPL’s greatest ever player
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show after the match, Rayudu declared that Narine stands above every other player in IPL history.
“For me, Sunil Narine is the best IPL player of all time,” Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show.
“He wins matches with both bat and ball and he has done it for so many years. The league has seen many great cricketers but Narine always rises above the rest. He is right at the top for me.”
Narine’s latest spell was another reminder of the remarkable consistency that has defined his IPL journey since joining KKR in 2012. Across 15 seasons the mystery spinner has remained one of the most economical bowlers in the competition, never once conceding at more than eight runs an over in a single campaign.
The 37-year-old now has 205 IPL wickets, trailing only Yuzvendra Chahal with 230 and Bhuvneshwar Kumar with 220 on the all-time list. He is also the most-capped overseas player in IPL history and has spent his entire career with one franchise.
Read more: Piyush Chawla points out the struggles of PBKS after defeat against MI
Sanjay Bangar says Narine’s brilliance is now routine
Every KKR title-winning campaign has featured Narine at the forefront. He claimed 24 wickets at an astonishing economy rate of 5.47 in 2012 when KKR lifted their maiden crown. In 2014 he delivered another exceptional season with 21 wickets at 6.35. Even during KKR’s most recent title triumph in 2024, Narine remained central with 17 wickets at 6.69.
This season he continues to operate with relentless control at an economy rate of 6.79.
Bangar, who joined Rayudu on the panel, described Narine’s latest performance as almost routine by his lofty standards.
“These are regulation figures for him,” Bangar said on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show.
“He has not done anything extraordinary because this is what he delivers regularly. That is the standard he has set.”
Bangar also reflected on Narine’s ability to reinvent himself despite facing scrutiny over his bowling action earlier in his career.
“There have been incredible players in this tournament but longevity matters,” Bangar said.
“Narine has dealt with challenges throughout his career including scrutiny over his bowling action. Yet he has constantly adapted and found ways to stay effective. He still turns the ball both ways and creates uncertainty in a batter’s mind. Those qualities make him truly special.”
Why The Best IPL Player Of All Time remains so difficult to attack
The former India all-rounder revealed that he had discussed Narine’s threat with Rayudu off-air, particularly the difficulty of attacking him consistently.
“Rayudu admitted he usually tried to play him cautiously and rotate strike,” Bangar said.
“Many players have attempted big shots against him over the years but very few have truly dominated him. That is what separates Narine from many other spinners.
“He seems to be a complete revelation because none of the batters over the last 12 or 13 years have really been able to dominate him.”
Also read: 3 IPL spells with the highest economy rates (ft. Anshul Kamboj)
Rayudu also explained why Narine continues to thrive in an era where batters regularly overpower even elite spinners. Comparing him to Gujarat Titans spinner Rashid Khan, who finished with figures of 0 for 57 in the same match, Rayudu pointed to the subtle difference in how Narine’s deliveries behave off the surface.
“With Rashid Khan many deliveries are top-spinners and they come quickly onto the bat,” Rayudu explained on the show.
“But Narine’s ball always seems to grip the surface slightly. It never rushes onto the bat. That extra fraction of hesitation forces batters into mistakes and makes it incredibly difficult to line him up.”
“You tend to lose your shape more often than not against someone like Sunil Narine.”
Narine continues to shape KKR’s IPL 2026 campaign
As KKR continue their charge in IPL 2026, Narine remains the side’s enduring talisman. More than a decade after first bamboozling batters in purple and gold, he is still producing match-winning spells with almost metronomic regularity.
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