Sunil Narine has been accused of chucking in IPL 2024
Former New Zealand bowler Simon Doull questioned Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Sunil Narine’s return to an action previously deemed illegal during KKR’s opening match against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) in the 2024 IPL season.
For the unfamiliar, Narine faced a ban from international cricket in 2015 due to excessive arm bending.
Is the bowling action of KKR’s Sunil Narine legal or illegal and is he chucking in IPL 2024
SUNIL NARINE IS A CLEAR CHUCKER THROWING IS NOT BOWLING….. @KnightsVibe pic.twitter.com/cFV8CwYmza
— Talk Cricket (@Gira_Hua_Banda) May 5, 2024
Despite being flagged for an illegal bowling action again in 2018 and 2019, he returned with a corrected technique and continued to be a key player, albeit with reduced impact.
However, he delivered a vintage performance in KKR’s first match of the 2024 season, recording figures of 1/19 from four overs on a flat pitch where both teams scored over 200 runs.
What Did Simon Doull Say?
In a post-game discussion, Doull commended Narine’s performance but raised concerns about his bowling action, suggesting that avoiding international cricket reduces the risk of being called for an illegal delivery.
Doull remarked, “Brilliant from Narine [against SRH]. He knows how to assess situations. He did get called for throwing and has adjusted his action. Now, by not playing international cricket, he probably feels safe from further scrutiny.”
The 54-year-old continued, suggesting Narine might be reverting to his old action, “I think he’s gone back a little bit to his previous style in some capacity, and it’s working for him. He was one of the few bowlers who got some purchase out of the pitch tonight.”
Several social media users also questioned if he was bending his elbow more than the permissible 15 degrees again.
Narine’s effective spell played a crucial role in KKR’s four-run win, with him not conceding a single boundary in his four overs, despite the high-scoring game with over 400 runs.
Shreyas Iyer Praises Narine & Russell
After the match, KKR skipper Shreyas Iyer applauded the performances of both Sunil Narine and Andre Russell. Russell, who was named Player of the Match, smashed 64 off 25 balls in KKR’s total of 208 and took two critical wickets with the ball.
In his post-match comments, Iyer praised the experienced duo, saying, “It’s amazing to see Andre perform with both bat and ball, and Sunny (Narine) was fantastic with the ball. Having these guys on our side is motivating. It feels great to start with a win.”
KKR’s 2023 IPL season was disappointing, with only six wins from 14 games, leading to a seventh-place finish.
About Simon Doull
For the unversed, Simon Blair Doull was born in Pukekohe, New Zealand on August 6th, 1969. He is a New Zealand radio host, cricket commentator, and former international cricketer.
He bowled right-arm medium pace, known for his ability to swing the ball away from right-handed batsmen. Unfortunately, injuries hampered his career, leading to an early retirement.
Despite this, he played in 32 Test matches and 42 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for New Zealand, taking 98 Test wickets and 36 ODI wickets. Doull’s standout performance came during the Boxing Day Test against India in Wellington in 1998, where he took 7 wickets for 65 runs.
This remarkable feat propelled him to a career-high ranking of sixth in the ICC Player Rankings on 26 December 1998. His final Test was against Australia in March 2000, after which he transitioned into commentary and radio broadcasting.
Simon Doull is the younger brother of Lincoln Doull, who represented Wellington in domestic cricket in the early 1990s.
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