IPL 7 game changer: Sunil Narine continues to mystify for Kolkata Knight Riders

In just two seasons at Kolkata, the West Indies 'mystery spinner' has already become their highest wicket-taker, writes Osman Samiuddin.

After just two seasons, Sunil Narine has become the all-time leading wicket-taker for Kolkata Knight Riders. Dibyangshu Sarkar / AFP

Sunil Narine has already changed the game.

He did that in 2012 when his 24 wickets led the Knight Riders to a first Indian Premier League (IPL) title, one their big-club status had virtually demanded from the birth of the league.

There cannot be too many more dangerous spinners in world cricket, especially in one-day games, than Narine. Saeed Ajmal is a genius across formats, but Narine in Twenty20s and 50-over games can often seem like a bigger mystery to solve.

It has become fashionable to distinguish these days between classical off-spinners, like Graeme Swann, and mystery spinners, such as Narine. The distinction is meant to somehow tar the latter with having illegal actions; witness the latest grumblings, ignited by Ravi Ashwin, over long-sleeved bowlers and short-sleeved ones.

But Narine is not a mystery off-spinner as much as he is a very modern one. He has an away-spinning ball of course, but it is his stock ball that is worth watching out for. With that high-arm he generally gets good bounce and also a fair rip, despite generally bowling flatter than most spinners.

It is really when and how he mixes up these two variations that stand him out. As a rule, he does not overdo the doosra. His game sense is outstanding, so that he knows precisely when he should be attacking which batsman, and when and whom he should be defensive against. He has gone entire games bowling one kind of delivery and concentrating on just one mode of attack at a particular batsman.

On a helpful surface, such as Eden Gardens, the combination of bounce, turn and his speed, take away most attacking options as a batsman. It is suicide to come down the pitch to loft him and equally to try to sweep. Going back becomes risky, too, and can reduce scoring options.

In picking him up during the 2012 auction, KKR were taking a punt.

He was little-known then and his value not entirely clear. But the reward in their investment was immediate, when he led the way to that first title and finished with the man-of-the-series award.

Even last season, as KKR sought to defend their title, he stood out. The franchise struggled to live up to their win and their batsmen, in particular, had a torrid time, as they finished seventh in the league.

But Narine was unrelenting, picking up 22 wickets.

He was the only bowler who bowled all his available overs during the league phase, an indicator of his reliability.

Tellingly, he led the charts on economy rate (for those who bowled at least 10 overs), conceding just 5.46 runs an over and he is already their all-time leading wicket taker in the IPL.

If KKR are to challenge this year or not, Narine will feature heavily either way.

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