KKR’s Sunil Narine during the practice session ahead of IPL game between KKR and Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on May 2.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

From hitting massive sixes, to scoring tons of runs, to producing breakthroughs, charismatic all-rounder Sunil Narine has been KKRs’ go-to man for more than a decade in the IPL, and co-owner Shah Rukh Khan was effusive in his praise for the all-rounder, calling him the “Superman” and the real energy behind the team’s success.

Riding on Narine’s blazing innings, including a century and two half-tons and nearly a dozen wickets, KKR are currently second on the table. The two-time champions could well break the decade-long jinx of not winning an IPL title if Narine’s charisma continues to shine through this season.

“In our house, we call him Superman, the god particle. He’s a boss on the field, a player, a bowler, a batsman, a wicketkeeper, a fielder. He’s an ‘anything’ player,” Shah Rukh told Star Sports show ‘Knight Club presents – King Khan’s Rules’ about the 35-year-old stalwart, who played a pivotal role in KKR lifting the trophy in 2012 and 2014.

Narine, the highest wicket-taker in the IPL among overseas spinners, had taken 21 and 24 respectively in the 2012 and 2014 editions, paving the way for the purple and gold jerseys to clinch the two IPL titles.

“He’s so spirited, so lovely. We’re very fortunate to have players, Indian or foreign, who have deep feelings for the team… Sunil, like I said, he’s an ‘anything’ player.” The Bollywood star added that Narine and country-mate Andre Russell were pivotal to the club’s ethos, saying any one of them getting injured feels like a body blow to the side.

“Imagine KKR without these guys. When they get injured, it feels awful to wonder how we’ll manage without them. It’s so crucial. They’ve been with us for so many years, and I think the way they have supported the team, they’re like part of the family,” said Shah Rukh.

Russell is a cut above the rest when it comes to hairstyle, and Shah Rukh said the cricketer is a “fashionista”.

The mohawk he made popular when he came into the IPL continues to trend even now, though more than a decade has elapsed since the fancy cut was first made popular by the West Indian.

“Such a wonderful person to be around, and such a great cricketer. He reminds us of the first big man like Universe Boss, Mr. Gayle. He’s like that, and I love the fact that he’s very fashion-conscious. He likes to dress well, do his hair.”

“Last night, I asked him, ‘Do you have some two-colour shoes?’ He said no, but he has designer spikes. So I said, ‘Are they Gucci designer spikes?’ Wow! Yes, well, I love the way he’s a fashionista.” Russell has forged a strong bond with Rinku Singh and Shah Rukh says their camaraderie reminds him of Jai-Veeru in the iconic movie ‘Sholey’.

“Rinku and he have such a strong bond, like the Jai-Veeru friendship. They’re so different, yet they love each other and help each other as cricketers and as people. They’re so different, yet they love each other and help each other as cricketers and as people.” Team mentor Gautam Gambhir, who returned to the side this season after a stint with Lucknow Super Giants, will always remain KKR’s icon, given that he guided the team to two IPL titles and helped them qualify for the playoffs five times.

“The great thing about Gautam Gambhir being back with us is that I never felt like he left us. Whether he’s in our team or mentoring someone else, there’s never any animosity or competition with him.” Part 1 of Knight Club presents – King Khan’s Rules will air at 6.15pm on the evening of May 3.

Kolkata Knight Riders batsman Sunil Narine in action during an IPL match.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Former India cricketer Gautam Gambhir says Sunil Narine is perhaps the greatest bowler in IPL and he had an inkling that the West Indian will develop into a legend of T20 cricket when he made his ODI debut against India way back in 2011.

The former Kolkata Knight Riders skipper and now team mentor has revealed that he decided to rope Narine for the IPL after seeing the West Indian during his debut series in 2011. “I must have faced seven or eight deliveries and I thought this is the guy who is going to go out there and become the legend of the game, especially in T20 cricket,” Gambhir said in KKR Knights Dugout Podcast.

“See where is Sunil Narine now? Probably the greatest bowler in IPL history,” he said.

Narine has taken 170 wickets in his IPL career and has also scored 1322 runs so far, including a century, from 168 matches he has played in the League.

He made his ODI debut against India in the third ODI in Ahmedabad in December 2011 where he returned with figures of 2/34, dismissing Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin.

But it was only during the fourth ODI in Indore that Gambhir faced Narine for the first time. Narine returned wicket-less with 0/46 from his six overs but Gambhir had made up his mind that the Trinidadian would become his go-to bowler in the IPL 2012. Narine emerged as a mystery bowler for KKR, claiming 24 wickets in 2012, the second-highest behind Morne Morkel’s 25, to help KKR clinch their maiden IPL crown in 2012.

In 2014 too when they won their second title, Narine was their second highest wicket-taker finishing with 21 scalps. Gambhir then tapped into Narine’s batting potential and promoted him to open for KKR.

This time around, he has been hugely successful with the bat while maintaining his stranglehold with the ball as well.

Back as a mentor of the side after playing a similar role with Lucknow Super Giants in the last two seasons, Gambhir said his mantra for KKR this season is to be “courageous” “I’m a strong believer that it’s not the most talented team that goes on to win big tournaments. It’s the most courageous team that’s willing to fight till the last drop of blood, will go on to win the IPL. The mantra for the season is we need to be courageous.

“We should have the courage to be positive all the time. and if you walk that path, I’m very, very bullish about the kind of talent in our dressing room. If we fight, if we are courageous and fight for everyone in the dressing room, fight for every fan who has stuck with us, if we do that I think we will be in a good position,” he added.

Gambhir further recalled how team owner Shah Rukh Khan backed him during his poor run in 2014 and told him “you are not going to drop yourself till you’re here”.

It served him as a motivation to do well and win the title in 2014.

“I couldn’t score one run in four games. I’ve said it a numerous number of times I think he is the best owner I’ve worked with. It’s not because I’m now part of KKR or I was part of KKR.

“I don’t think so in seven years of me captaining KKR we have had a cricketing conversation even for seven minutes, except that patch that I was going through.

“That time also we had the conversation because I was on the verge of dropping myself. The only thing he told me was till you’re here, you are not going to drop yourself.

“Imagine someone, as an owner who himself has been such a big achiever, not even talking about cricket or asking you a single thing about your decision making.

“I’m not saying I took all the right decisions. But he never questioned my decisions that’s the trust he had in me,” he signed off.