Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine has once again found himself at the centre of praise following another impactful performance in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season. Former Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Ambati Rayudu recently hailed the West Indies superstar after he played a match-winning role in KKR’s 29-run victory over Gujarat Titans (GT).
Narine delivered a clinical spell of 2/29 in his four overs during his landmark 200th IPL appearance and was deservedly named Player of the Match. The performance further strengthened his reputation as one of the greatest T20 cricketers in league history.
Ambati Rayudu heaps praise on Sunil Narine
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Rayudu explained why Narine continues to remain a standout performer despite the IPL becoming increasingly batter-friendly over the years.
"Proper match-winner with the ball, and with the bat," Rayudu said. "There have been such great players in the IPL, but this guy always stands out. He’s on the top of the list for me."
Rayudu also highlighted the unique challenge Narine presents to batters due to the nature of his bowling and how the ball behaves off the surface.
"With Sunil Narine, everything he bowls tends to just hold in the surface," Rayudu said. "His ball never skids onto the bat. As a batsman, it’s always tough to line him up because the ball tends to hold and you lose your shape more often than not."
Former India all-rounder Sanjay Bangar also praised Sunil Narine and called him “a legend of the league,” while appreciating his longevity and evolution as a bowler despite scrutiny around his action during different phases of his career.
Narine’s incredible IPL legacy continues
Narine currently sits third on the all-time IPL wicket-takers list with 205 wickets, only behind Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar. The veteran spinner has represented only KKR since making his IPL debut in 2012 and remains the most-capped overseas player in tournament history.
The Trinidadian has played a major role in KKR’s title-winning campaigns in 2012, 2014, and 2024 with his remarkable consistency. Impressively, Sunil Narine has never recorded an economy rate above eight in any IPL season, while in IPL 2026 he is conceding runs at just 6.79 per over.