Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR)’s veteran bowling all-rounder Sunil Narine delivered a sensational performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 match against Rajasthan Royals (RR) at Eden Gardens on Tuesday. Narine achieved a significant milestone by scoring his maiden IPL century, thrilling fans with a dazzling display of batting.
Sunil Narine’s brilliant century
Narine opened the batting for KKR and took his time to settle in. Once he found his rhythm, the West Indies star unleashed a barrage of powerful shots, dominating the Royals’ bowling attack. Narine reached his hundred in just 49 balls, propelling the Knight Riders to a massive total. His innings was studded with 12 fours and 6 sixes.
A historic achievement
Narine’s century marked a historic moment in IPL history as he became the first player to achieve the double milestone of scoring a hundred runs and taking 100 wickets in the league. Over his illustrious IPL career, spanning 168 matches, Narine’s versatility as a player has made him a valuable asset to KKR.
KKR’s strong batting performance
KKR’s total reached an imposing 223 runs in 20 overs, with Narine’s innings serving as the foundation. In addition to Narine’s century, Angkrish Raghuvanshi contributed a quick 30, while Rinku Singh added an unbeaten 20* to the tally. The collective batting effort set a challenging target for the Rajasthan Royals.
Bowling efforts by the Royals
For the Royals, the bowling unit faced a tough challenge against KKR’s powerful batting lineup. Avesh Khan and Kuldeep Sen managed to take two wickets each, while Yuzvendra Chahal and Trent Boult each claimed one wicket. However, their efforts were not enough to contain the aggressive batting display led by Narine.
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Here is how Twitter reacted:
Oh to be Sunil Narine. Opposition batters show you respect and rarely go after you. And you open the batting and go after every single one of them. A real MVP 🙌🏼 #KKRvRR #IPL2024 pic.twitter.com/UmFQedmyK3
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) April 16, 2024
What a performance Sunil Narine!! Serious hitting and brilliant hundred 👏🏼
— Aaron Finch (@AaronFinch5) April 16, 2024
Phenomenal hitting from Sunil Narine. First century in any format of the game. Age is just a number👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻.
— Ian Raphael Bishop (@irbishi) April 16, 2024
It’s his cricket brain & his inherent nature isn’t it? Anticipating bowlers next move & keeping a calm head & body balance hitting the ball out of the ground!
Quality innings against a quality attack. Well done Sunil Narine! 👏👏👏#KKRvRR
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 16, 2024
MAIDEN T20 CENTURY BY SUNIL NARINE…!!!! 💥
One of the finest ever knocks for KKR – the GOAT of KKR has delivered with the bat. What a knock! 👏 pic.twitter.com/rHzqee51dN
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) April 16, 2024
HUNDRED FOR SUNIL NARINE 🫡
– Maiden IPL hundred for Narine, what a turn-around in his batting, total dominated & smashed hundred from just 49 balls against Rajasthan Royals 👌 pic.twitter.com/Y8pSPKxDYZ
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) April 16, 2024
Sunil Narine hits a magnificent century 🤯🫡🔥#SunilNarine #KKRvsRR #ipl2024 #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/NaWVSzmMP6
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) April 16, 2024
Wonder if we’ll ever get to a point where a foreign IPL player gets a stand named after them at their “home” Indian venue. If so, can totally see a Sunil Narine Enclosure at Eden Gardens someday & maybe a Kieron Pollard Gate at the Wankhede #IPL2024 #KKRvRR
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) April 16, 2024
King Khan applauds. Eden applauds. We applaud. 👏👏👏
What a knock, Sunny! 💜
— KolkataKnightRiders (@KKRiders) April 16, 2024
Sunil Narine is now the only player with both a century and five-wicket haul in IPL history. pic.twitter.com/4Bu5wFRUZ3
— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) April 16, 2024
Well played, Sunil Narine 👏 pic.twitter.com/YtKfyA6ffh
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) April 16, 2024
Hundred for Sunil Narine🔥
What a season for him with the bat pic.twitter.com/CyEDQtvj8q
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) April 16, 2024
Appreciation all round 👏
Well done Sunil Narine 👌
Follow the Match ▶️https://t.co/13s3GZLlAZ #TATAIPL | #KKRvRR | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/uXHSvuvnFb
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 16, 2024
Thank You Andre Russell for celebrating Sunil Narine’s hundred. Otherwise didn’t even feel like a batter has reached a century with his expressions.
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) April 16, 2024
Invention of wheels is the second biggest invention in this world, first one remains to be someone who saw a batsman in Sunil Narine pic.twitter.com/AeUdanPapr
— EngiNerd. (@mainbhiengineer) April 16, 2024
Gautam Gambhir hugged Sunil Narine when he completed his Hundred.
– GG is the most happiest man for Sunil Narine..!!!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/8WkzSkJ2EJ
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) April 16, 2024
Sunil Narine hai hukum ka ikka. When he bowls no one can score, when he bats no one can stop him.
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) April 16, 2024
Players who have both century and hat-trick in IPL history –
• Rohit Sharma
• Shane Watson
• Sunil Narine*
End of the list. pic.twitter.com/SWKUpzjaTb
— Vishal. (@SPORTYVISHAL) April 16, 2024
Shah Rukh Khan in full mood dancing in joy as Sunil Narine scores his century, 3rd player to do that for KKR 🥹💜 pic.twitter.com/7sd10Q9lYq
— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) April 16, 2024
sunil narine
after scoring 0: after scoring 100: pic.twitter.com/v9c7h7GSO8
— Savage (@arcomedys) April 16, 2024
At this time, it’s hard to say whether Sunil Narine is a batting all-rounder or a bowling all-rounder. Biggest legend of KKR. pic.twitter.com/F3rV18kXf8
— R A T N I S H (@LoyalSachinFan) April 16, 2024
We remember when Sunil Narine was just a mystery bowler. How things can be transformed. It gives everyone hope.
— Iceland Cricket (@icelandcricket) April 16, 2024
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