Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) all-rounder Sunil Narine was not included in the playing XI for the IPL 2025 match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on Wednesday, March 26. KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane revealed that the West Indies veteran was unwell, leading to Moeen Ali taking his place in the lineup.
Speaking at the toss, Rahane stated (via Cricbuzz):
“Sunil Narine misses out, he’s not well. Moeen Ali comes in.”
Narine’s absence is a blow for KKR, as he delivered a strong performance in their previous match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The left-hander scored a quick 44 off 26 balls at a strike rate of 169.23, hitting three sixes and five fours. He also contributed with the ball, taking 1/27 in his four-over spell.
Having played 178 matches for KKR, Narine was retained for INR 12 crore. The 36-year-old was instrumental in KKR’s title-winning campaign last season, scoring 488 runs and claiming 17 wickets in 15 matches.
Moeen Ali will aim to step up in Sunil Narine’s absence. The English all-rounder has accumulated 1,162 runs and taken 35 wickets in 67 IPL matches. However, in the previous season, he had a modest performance, scoring only 128 runs and securing two wickets in eight games.
Ajinkya Rahane’s KKR elect to bowl first against RR in IPL 2025 clash
KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane won the toss and opted to bowl first against RR in the IPL 2025 match. The 36-year-old cited the presence of dew at the venue as a key factor in his decision. Speaking at the toss, he said:
“We’ll look to bowl first. The wicket looks really good. If we bowl first, we’ll get an idea how this wicket is. Dew factor is huge here.”
Rahane also expressed confidence in the defending champions’ ability to recover after their opening-game defeat to RCB.
“It’s about staying positive, this format is all about being fearless, playing with intent. We played very good cricket, T20 is all about giving your best each and every day. We are looking forward to this game. We learnt a lot from the last game. We want to stay in the moment.”
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