In a big boost to the Kolkata Knight Riders, the West Indies off-spinner Sunil Narine is all set to join the team today, ahead of its Indian Premier League match against Mumbai Indians on Wednesday.
“Narine is arriving tomorrow morning,” a team official said. However, it would be interesting to see who the mystery spinner will replace in the playing XI, given KKR’s spectacular show in their IPL opener, where they thrashed Delhi Daredevils by nine wickets.
Veteran Australia chinaman bowler Brad Hogg made the best use of Narine’s absence, returning with the day’s best figures of three for 19 while forming a potent pair with legspinner Piyush Chawla, who claimed two for 21.
45-year-old Hogg had admitted during a promotional event that he was ‘scared’ of his place in the team as Narine might replace him. “I was a bit scared before the match because if and when Narine comes my chances to play would be less. So I tried my level best,” he has revealed.
Last season also when Narine was mired in suspect action and was unavailable for initial few matches, it was Hogg who had replaced him in the playing XI.
The Trinidadian, who has been cleared by ICC after his remedial action, had rushed back home after his father’s demise.
Narine has been KKR’s most successful bowler with 74 wickets from four seasons and was instrumental in team lifting two titles in 2012 and 2014. (Indian Express)
