IPL 2018: 5 players KKR can look at as possible replacement for Sunil Narine
The Caribbean mystery spinner Sunil Narine has been reported for a suspect bowling action while featuring for the Lahore Qalandars in the on-going third edition of the PSL and there are question marks over his participation in IPL 2018 now.
Narine has not been stopped from bowling with immediate effect in the PSL but has instead been added to the warning list. According to a statement released by the Pakistan cricket board, if Narine is reported for the second time in the tournament, he will be banned from bowling in the rest of PSL 3.
While this is not a big issue for Narine’s PSL team Lahore Qalandars as they have only one game left in the tournament, this can surely be an issue for Kolkata Knight Riders who had retained Narine as one of their overseas players ahead of the auction.
The 29-year old might decide to withdraw from IPL 11 to work on his bowling action and if that happens, it will be a big blow for KKR. However, the good thing is that there are a few talented overseas spinners who went unsold in the auction and one of them might be the ideal replacement for Narine.
Here are the 5 names the KKR management might want to look at if Narine is not available.
#1 Samuel Badree
Samuel Badree averages 18.72 and has an economy rate of less than 6 in international T20 cricket which is outstanding, to say the least. But, surprisingly, he hasn’t been able to achieve as much success in the IPL as he has done internationally in the shortest format of the game. However, to be fair to him, he hasn’t got consistent playing opportunities for any team either.
Badree is not a classical leggie who relies on loop and looks to beat the batsman in the air. He doesn’t have a lot of variations in his bowling either. He bowls it pretty flat and quick and hardly anything turns away from the right-handers, most of his deliveries actually slide in.
But his biggest strength is his accuracy. He almost always bowls stump to stump and makes sure any mistake from the batsmen fetches him a chance to get leg-before-wicket or bowled.