(Credit Sportzpics)
The enduring bond between two Kolkata Knight Riders icons, Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine, traces its roots back to the early days of their tenure with the franchise. Now reunited in different capacities, they aim to steer the team to its third championship victory. Gambhir recently shared an intriguing anecdote about his initial interaction with the former West Indies international.
In a season marked by KKR’s commendable performance, Sunil Narine emerged as the driving force with his remarkable all-round display, earning him the title of the Most Valuable Player for the 2024 campaign. Gambhir, in an interview with Sportskeeda Cricket, highlighted Narine’s relentless dedication behind the scenes and hailed him as KKR’s true MVP, even in the absence of official recognition. He also hinted at the possibility of Narine’s continued contribution to the team for years to come.
He said, “What more can I say? Even if he did not win the MVP award, he would still have been KKR’s MVP. Not just looking at the stats but even before the tournament started he was KKR’s MVP. With the way he bowls, and his talent in batting, all he has done is showcase his talent out to the world. I’m sure, in the times to come there is a lot left to be seen from him. I feel like Sunil Narine has a lot left to give to the franchise as well as world cricket”.
Reminiscing about their formative years with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, Gautam Gambhir, then leading the team, shared insights into his initial encounter with the versatile all-rounder.
“I still remember when he came to KKR in 2012, he came to Jaipur. We were going to practice, I was having my lunch at a coffee shop, and I asked Sunil to come and join us. He was so shy that he didn’t even speak a word. But the first thing he asked me was, ‘If I can bring my girlfriend to the IPL?’,” said Gambhir
Now the two have a close relationship and Gambhir considers Narine as a brother the two can open up to each other at any point in time and are a call away if in need.
Reminiscing about their formative years with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2012, Gautam Gambhir, then leading the team, shared insights into his initial encounter with the versatile all-rounder.
Gambhir identifies parallels in their personalities, noting that both he and the all-rounder exemplify professionalism and a steadfast commitment to accomplishing their tasks. Their shared ethos fosters a deep mutual respect between them.
“When I say we are similar characters I mean, we don’t get excited easily, don’t show a lot of emotion, are not too flamboyant, just do the job and come back. There is a mutual respect that will always be there between us,” he concluded.
