New Delhi. After the conclusion of IPL 2024 with the title win of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), the entire focus of cricket fans has now shifted to the T20 World Cup. KKR defeated Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) by 8 wickets in a one-sided final to become the IPL champion for the third time. The ICC T20 World Cup 2024 will begin on June 1 with the match between USA and Canada while the final will be played on June 29.
Many players participating in IPL 2024 will also show their flair in T20 World Cup 2024. On the other hand, there are some players who will not be seen in the T20 World Cup despite their great performance in the Indian Premier League as they have said goodbye to international cricket. 36-year-old Sunil Narine is one such player. In IPL 2024, Sunil has performed brilliantly with both bat and ball. He scored 488 runs (one century) in 15 matches at an average of 34.85 and a strike rate of 180.74 and also did wonders with off-break bowling, taking 17 wickets at an average of 21.64 and an economy of 6.69. Not only this, he has also performed brilliantly in the T20 World Cup.
Brothers who played together in T20 WC, one pair each from India-Pakistan included
Has refused to return to international cricket
After his excellent performance in IPL, Narine was requested to change his decision of retirement from international cricket and become a part of the Indies team in T20 WC, but he flatly refused it. Thanking the appeal of KKR team colleague Andre Russell and some other West Indies players, Narine wrote on social media, ‘I am happy that many people have expressed happiness over my recent performance and appealed to me to withdraw my decision of retirement and play in the T20 World Cup, but I humbly want to say that this door is now closed for me. I will support the Indies team and players from outside the field for the T20 World Cup to be held in June. ‘ Narine has said goodbye to international cricket in November 2023 itself. By the way, he was not a part of the West Indies team since 2019.
Batsman who played for two countries, was a part of T20 World Cup, his siblings are also international cricketers
Narine has the best economy in T20 World Cup
In the T20 World Cup, Sunil Narine took 15 wickets at an economy of 5.17 and an average of 15.4. Sunil Narine/Insta
Sunil Narine holds the record for the best economy rate (minimum 15 wickets) in T20 World Cup as a bowler. Narine played in the 2012 and 2014 T20 World Cups, bowling 44.4 overs in 23 matches and taking 15 wickets. During this period, his bowling average was 15.4, economy 5.17 and strike rate 17.8. Taking wickets in a T20 format tournament with an economy rate of less than 6 runs per over is indeed a great achievement and only a few bowlers have been able to do this.
Among the bowlers who have taken more than 15 wickets in the T20 World Cup, apart from Sunil Narine, only Anrich Norkia (20 wickets, economy 5.37), Samuel Brady (24 wickets, economy 5.52), Wanindu Hasaranga (31 wickets, economy 5.81), Daniel Vettori (20 wickets, economy 5.83), Nathan McCullum (23 wickets, economy 5.94) and Imran Tahir (18 wickets, economy 5.94) have an economy below 6. Except Norkia, all others among these bowlers are spinners. Sunil Narine has played 51 T20Is in his international career, in which he has taken 52 wickets at an average of 21.25 and economy of 6.01. He also has 21 wickets in six Tests and 92 wickets in 65 ODIs to his name.
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He has also been suspended for suspicious bowling action
Narine played a vital role in making West Indies the champion in T20 World Cup 2012. In the low scoring final, he took three wickets for 9 runs in 3.4 overs against Sri Lanka and was the most successful bowler of the West Indies team. In 7 matches of the 2012 T20 World Cup, he took 9 wickets at an average of 15.44 and in 5 matches of the 2014 T20 World Cup, he took 6 wickets at an average of 15.33. Narine did not get much chance to bat in the T20 World Cup. He scored 14 runs while remaining unbeaten twice in three innings of 12 matches. By the way, Narine has also been reported several times for suspicious bowling action. He has been suspended for bending his elbow more than the approved limit of 15 degrees and after improving his action, he has returned to cricket.
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Some other important records of T20 World Cup
Played all 8 T20 World Cups: Rohit Sharma of India and Shakib Al Hasan of Bangladesh
Most matches in the tournament: Rohit Sharma (39)
Most runs in the tournament: Virat Kohli (1141 runs)
Most wickets in the tournament: Shakib Al Hasan (47 wickets)
Highest individual score: Brendon McCullum (123 runs)
Fastest century: Chris Gayle (47 balls)
Fastest half-century: Yuvraj Singh (12 balls)
Most sixes: Chris Gayle (63 sixes)
Best bowling analysis: Ajantha Mendis (6 wickets for 8 runs)
Most catches as a wicketkeeper: MS Dhoni 32 (21 catches, 11 stumpings)
Most catches as a fielder: AB de Villiers (23 catches).
Tags: ICC T20 world cup, IPL 2024, Kolkata Knight Riders, sunil narine, T20 World Cup, West Indies Cricket Team
FIRST PUBLISHED : May 28, 2024, 08:06 IST