Sunil Narine is having a late-career resurgence. The mystery spinner has all of a sudden become an all-rounder. The left-hander is known to hit a long ball, but in the IPL 2024, he’s found consistency unlike ever before.
As of now, he’s the third-highest run-getter in the season. His 276 runs have come at 46, and he’s striking at a mind-boggling rate of 187.75. All of a sudden, he’s gone from a spinner who isn’t at his best to an immediate starter for virtually any T20 team in the world. His renaissance has made West Indies T20I skipper Rovman Powell urge Narine’s international return after 5 years with the T20 World Cup 2024 in mind.
Sunil Narine not ready to return for the T20 World Cup 2024?
When asked about Narine’s incredible performance, Powell said that he’s been talking to the mystery spinner about playing in the T20 World Cup 2024 for the West Indies, but he’s not listening to him yet. He even asked for his friend’s help to convince him, but so far he’s had no luck.
“For the last 12 months, I have been whispering in Sunil’s ear, but he has blocked out everyone. I have asked his best friends Pollard, Bravo, and Pooran, and hopefully they will crack his code before they select the team,” Rovman Powell said in the post-match interview after the Rajasthan Royals won the match.
T20 WC
Why do the West Indies need Narine?
By having Sunil Narine in the squad, the home team will find the required flexibility. The ‘all-rounder’ can bat as a floater from number one to nine. His ability to whack it, especially in the powerplay, is a boon to have. Having him as an opener, especially considering the poor returns of Johnson Charles, can make the West Indies a better batting unit.
But his bowling might be a bigger positive. It’s good to have Gudakesh Motie, Akeal Hossein, and Fabien Allen, but all of them are left-arm orthodox spinners, and only Motie can turn the ball big. As a right-arm spinner, Narine can do much better than part-timer spinner Roston Chase, and on possibly spin-friendly wickets in the Caribbean, he can be more than a handful. He can also bowl dry if needed and can be used in both the middle and death overs.