Xtra Time Web Desk: In a spectacular turn of events, Sunil Narine has etched his name into the annals of IPL history by scoring his maiden century on 16th April against the Rajasthan Royals at the Eden Gardens. A mastermind move from the KKR mentor Gautam Gambhir, for promoting Narine up the order. Narine has an attacking shot percentage of 83 this season while opening. KKR co owner Shah Rukh Khan was captured esctatic with joy from the corporate box after this century. Displaying impeccable form and precision, Narine’s century, achieved in just 49 balls, stands as a testament to his prowess on the cricket field. This monumental achievement propelled KKR into a commanding position against the RR.
Narine, since promoted as the opener, has scored 167 runs in 5 matches. This remarkable feat marks Narine’s first-ever IPL hundred, underscoring his exceptional talent and contribution to the game. The moment of triumph came with a boundary shot, sealing his place in IPL folklore and igniting celebrations among fans and teammates alike. This century makes him the third KKR batter to do so, after Brendon McCullum and Venkatesh Iyer.
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Speaking during the innings breaks, Narine jokes that he would have found it laughable if someone had told him he’d be among the top scorers before the tournament started. He credits Gautam Gambhir for restoring his confidence to open the innings and play freely. Narine emphasizes his aim to provide the team with a strong start. He acknowledges the challenge of bowling and highlights the importance of the Powerplay in containing opponents. When asked about his prospects for the T20 World Cup, Narine simply states, “It is what it is.”
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Narine kept on going until Trent Boult bowled him out in the 17.3th over on 109. He became the first KKR batter to score a 100 in the home ground. Because of his sensational innings, and a 30 off 18 balls cameo from Angarish Raghuvanshi and some late hits from Rinku Singh KKR got to a solid total of 223.