Rayudu hails Narine as 'greatest IPL player' of all time
New Delhi, May 17
Ambati Rayudu believes Sunil Narine is the best player in the history of the Indian Premier League. The veteran all-rounder once again delivered a match-winning performance for Kolkata Knight Riders.
Narine had figures of 2/29 in KKR's 29-run victory over Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026 on Saturday, earning the Player of the Match award in his 200th IPL appearance.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo's TimeOut show after the game, Rayudu said Narine's consistency and ability to impact matches with both bat and ball make him the greatest player the tournament has ever seen.
"Best IPL player, according to me, of all time," Rayudu said.
"He's a proper match-winner with the ball and with the bat. There have been great players in the IPL, but this guy always stands out. He's at the top of the list for me."
Narine's long career and impact continue to set him apart in the league. He is currently the third-highest wicket-taker in IPL history with 205 wickets, behind only Yuzvendra Chahal and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
A one-franchise player since joining KKR in 2012, Narine has played a key role in all three of Kolkata's IPL title wins. He took 24 wickets at an economy of 5.47 during KKR's title-winning season in 2012, followed that with 21 wickets in 2014, and added 17 wickets during their championship run in 2024.
Remarkably, Narine has never given up more than eight runs per over in a single IPL season. He remains one of the league's most economical bowlers, even in an era dominated by batters.
Rayudu also explained why Narine is such a tough bowler to face compared to other leading T20 spinners.
"I think Rashid Khan has a unique problem, especially on pitches like that, because everything is a topspinner," Rayudu said.
"When that kind of ball hits the surface, it tends to come on quickly to the bat. But with Sunil Narine, everything he bowls tends to hold on the surface. That's something that always happens. His ball never skids onto the bat."
"As a batsman, it's always tough to line up against someone like Sunil Narine because the ball tends to hold. You often lose your shape."
— IANS
Reader Comments
I agree he's amazing, but greatest of all time? That's a big claim. What about Chahal with his 200+ wickets? Or Bumrah who changed death bowling in T20s? Even Gayle's batting domination was unmatched. Narine is definitely top 5, but let's not get carried away. Rayudu is just hyping his former teammate 😅
As a KKR fan from Kolkata, this makes me so proud! 🟣🟡 Narine is the heart of the franchise. The way he outsmarts batsmen, especially on slow pitches where the ball holds up, is pure art. His economy rate in 2024 was under 6 runs per over, which is insane for modern T20. Also, his six-hitting ability makes him a proper all-rounder. Rayudu knows his cricket well!
With all due respect to Rayudu, I think people forget how good Rashid Khan has been. Narine has been in a great team (KKR) with strong support, while Rashid carried SRH on his own for years. Also, Narine's batting is overrated - he only scores in patches. But yeah, his bowling is legendary, no doubt. Fair debate though 🇮🇳
Can we appreciate Narine's longevity? One-franchise loyalty in the IPL is rare, especially for overseas players. He could have made more money elsewhere, but he stayed with KKR and delivered trophy after trophy. That kind of commitment and consistency is what makes legends. Respect from Chennai! 👏
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