Sunil Narine has continued to build an already storied IPL résumé, following up another match-winning outing for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). In IPL 2026, the left-arm spinner produced a tidy, decisive middle-overs spell as KKR beat Gujarat Titans (GT) by 29 runs, and his impact was so significant that Ambati Rayudu went as far as calling him the “best IPL player of all time.” Narine’s day arrived in a landmark 200th appearance in the tournament, where he finished with figures of 2 for 29 and also earned Player of the Match recognition for a performance that underlined his control and consistency.
Key takeaways
- Narine returned 2 for 29 as KKR defeated Gujarat Titans by 29 runs in IPL 2026.
- His spell came in his 200th IPL match, earning him the Player of the Match award.
- Ambati Rayudu praised Narine as the “best IPL player of all time” and highlighted his all-round dominance.
- Sanjay Bangar ranked Narine among the league’s greatest, pointing to his longevity and adaptation despite past scrutiny of his action.
- Narine is third on the all-time wicket-takers list with 205 wickets, behind Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Rayudu’s verdict on Narine’s impact
Speaking after the game on ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Ambati Rayudu stressed how Narine’s influence sets him apart from everyone else in the competition’s history. Rayudu, who has represented Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and Mumbai Indians (MI), described Narine as a genuine match-winner not only with the ball but also with the bat.
Rayudu added that while the IPL has hosted many outstanding players, Narine consistently stands out. His point was less about one-off brilliance and more about the way Narine keeps appearing at the top end of performance, season after season, in a format that often rewards volatility.
Bangar on longevity, reinventing, and bowling that batters struggle to face
Sanjay Bangar also placed Narine among the tournament’s greatest performers. He cited the spinner’s ability to sustain high output for an extended period, and noted that Narine has managed to evolve even after his bowling action faced questions at different stages of his career. Bangar’s view was that Narine has not merely survived the scrutiny—he has found a way to deliver with the same kind of overspin that fans associate with his skill, while still keeping the ball capable of turning in more than one direction.
That combination, Bangar suggested, creates real mental pressure for batters. He felt that these qualities—endurance, adaptability, and the ability to keep batters uncertain—are exactly what give Narine legendary status in the IPL.
Narine, who has played only for KKR since debuting in the league in 2012, is currently third on the all-time wicket-takers list with 205 wickets. Bangar’s comments were also framed by how rare Narine’s consistency has been across seasons. Over 15 IPL campaigns, he has never finished a season with an economy rate above eight runs per over, a benchmark that speaks to his control in a tournament where run-scoring is often relentless.
Bangar referenced the latest Gujarat match spell as another illustration of the standards Narine sets. In his assessment, the numbers were not a one-time anomaly. Instead, they reflected a regular operating level: Bangar said Narine’s performance is built on routine execution rather than occasional “extraordinary” bursts.
How Rayudu and Bangar explained the batter’s challenge
Bangar also revealed an earlier conversation with Rayudu about how difficult Narine is to face, particularly during Rayudu’s spells with Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Bangar said Rayudu felt Narine tends to draw defensive batting out of opponents, with “ones and twos” viewed as a safer approach against him.
Bangar further pointed out that even when batters attempt more aggressive patterns—such as trying to slog or sweeping from the back foot into the off side—Narine has still not been taken apart in the way many other spinners have been vulnerable to in the IPL. In Bangar’s view, over the last 12 or 13 years, opponents have struggled to dominate Narine in the manner that they have managed against other leading spin options.
Rayudu then added context to why Narine continues to thrive in an era dominated by power-hitting. He contrasted Narine with other T20 spinners who can see fluctuating returns, and used Rashid Khan’s outing in the same match—where Rashid went wicketless and conceded 57 runs—to underline the distinct nature of Narine’s bowling.
Rayudu explained that on certain pitches, everything becomes a topspinner, meaning the ball can come onto the bat quickly. With Rashid Khan, that effect can create a “unique problem” for his style on such surfaces. But Rayudu said that with Narine, the ball tends to stay on the surface rather than skidding onto the batter, meaning the usual rhythm players look for doesn’t arrive in the same way.
That difference, Rayudu concluded, makes it hard for batters to settle. He said that because the ball holds, batters often lose their shape more often than not—an issue that repeatedly shows up for opponents when Narine bowls.
Narine’s bigger IPL résumé
Beyond the latest match, Narine’s overall contribution remains immense. With the bat, he has scored 1821 IPL runs, and he has been central to all three of KKR’s IPL title triumphs—coming in 2012, 2014, and 2024. More than a decade after his league debut, his influence continues to place him among the most important figures in the competition.
