IPL 2025: Sunil Narine Lauds Team Effort After Match-Winning Spell Seals 14-Run Win Over Delhi Capitals

April 30, 2025: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Sunil Narine praised his teammates for their all-round performance after helping secure a vital 14-run win against Delhi Capitals (DC) at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday in IPL 2025.

Defending 204, KKR found themselves under pressure midway through the chase, but Narine’s tight spell and a crucial run-out helped tilt the match back in the visitors’ favor. With captain Ajinkya Rahane sidelined due to injury, Narine also took charge of on-field leadership duties during the latter half of the game.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Narine emphasized the significance of a collective effort. “It was a total team effort,” he said. “We started in the middle overs with Anky (Angkrish Raghuvanshi) and Rinku with the bat. I still back myself to come back and deliver for the team.”

Narine, who has often been KKR’s trump card in crunch situations, noted the unpredictable nature of the T20 format. “There are games when you start well and struggle, and then there are games that you do not begin well and end well,” he added.

While modest about his fielding, Narine made a game-changing contribution with a direct hit that dismissed KL Rahul. “Not the greatest fielder,” he admitted, “but it is always good to get a good run-out whenever possible. Just swing and throw the ball as hard as possible.”

Narine underlined his commitment to being a dependable option in pressure situations. “Always want to be able to give the captain an option of going for you in a pressure situation,” he said. “If you want to be that player, you have to do the hard work even when there’s no training.”

With KKR still battling for playoff qualification, the win marks a crucial step forward as the team looks to build momentum heading into the business end of the tournament.