Sunil Narine has been named as the skipper of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the inaugural edition of UAE’s International League T20 season.
Narine has been with the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise since 2012 in the IPL and has a strong relationship with the Knight Riders group. He has been crucial for the team season after season and has lifted the trophy with them in 2012 and 2014.
Narine is a match-winner with the ball, and he can bat anywhere in the line-up purely as a slogger. He has played more than 400 T20 games around the world.
Narine’s economy rate under a run-a-ball is quite remarkable and speaks of his abilities. He will have his KKR teammate Andre Russell in the same squad for the ILT20 alongside the Carribean teammates Ravi Rampaul, Akeal Hossein, Raymon Reifer and Kennar Lewis.
“I have grown on Knight Riders, and Knight Riders have grown on me, so it’s like a family.” Sunil Narine
Narine speaks about the responsibility changes with the new role of captaincy coming to him. He has also praised the KKR family, saying that they have always supported him.
“It’s a new challenge, because now I have to think about the functioning of our whole team, rather than just focus on my game or my four overs. It’s something I’m really looking forward to. I have grown on Knight Riders, and Knight Riders have grown on me, so it’s like a family. Everywhere they have a team, I love being a part of it,” Narine said in a statement released by the franchise.
He added about the UAE conditions being quite familiar to him and added that he is delighted to have a lot of senior players in the group which will ease a bit of pressure off him.
“I have played a lot of cricket in the UAE, so I know the conditions pretty well. If you look at the ADKR squad, it is a familiar setup, and not a brand new XI that I have to get used to. So that gives me great confidence, knowing the strength of my players. There are a lot of senior guys in the team as well, who I can bounce ideas and information off. It’s going to be a lot of fun, it has been a long journey with the Knight Riders family, and I hope it’s a never-ending one,” he added.
The franchise has rewarded his loyalty by giving him the role of captaincy. The IL20 League is all set to begin on January 13 and Narine will add another trophy to the Knight Riders’ cabinet.
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