'Best IPL player of all time' - Ambati Rayudu makes strong statement on Kolkata Knight Riders legend

Former India and Chennai Super Kings batter Ambati Rayudu has called Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) spinner Sunil Narine the greatest player to grace the Indian Premier League (IPL). This comes after the former West Indies spinner guided the three-time champions to a convincing win over the Gujarat Titans at the Eden Gardens on Saturday, May 16. 

KKR posted 247 runs on the board in the first innings, with Narine’s spin putting the brakes on the run chase. The right-arm spinner took two wickets whilst conceding just 29 runs from his quota of four overs. He picked up the crucial scalp of GT captain Shubman Gill to put his side in the driver’s seat. 

Rayudu heaped praise on Narine after KKR’s victory and called him a match-winner, with both bat and bowl. A plethora of international and domestic stars have played in the IPL, but no one tops Rayudu’s list. 

“Best IPL player, according to me of all time. Proper match-winner with the ball, [and] with the bat. There have been such great players in the IPL, but this guy always stands out. He's on the top of the list for me,” Ambati Rayudu said on ESPNcricinfo’s programme. 

Another former India international, Sanjay Bangar, echoed Rayudu's statement, stating Narine is one of the biggest IPL legends. The former coach credits the spinner for coming back time after time despite setbacks, such as a change in his bowling action, and for still being a threat with the ball. 

"Some great names have plied their trade in this league, but yes, longevity is a factor. He had had to also overcome a lot of other problems in terms of how his action was questioned on many occasions, but he seems to have found another way of delivering with the same overspin that you generally associate with his skill set, [while] retaining the ability to get the ball turning both ways. And that puts massive doubts in the batter's mind. I think some of those qualities make him a legend of the league,” Sanjay Bangar said on the same programme. 

Narine played his 200th game for the Knight Riders against GT and has 205 wickets for the 2024 champions. Turning 38 in a few days, the right-arm spinner is still one of the best bowlers in the 2026 IPL season, taking 13 wickets at a miserly economy of 6.69.