ILT20 2022-23: Sunil Narine to lead Abu Dhabi Knight Riders

Sunil Narine has been named as the leader of the Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for the inaugural edition of UAE’s International League T20 season. Narine has been with the Kolkata Knight Riders franchise for a long time now in the IPL and he has had a strong relationship with the Knight Riders group.  

Narine is a match-winner with the ball and he can bat anywhere in the line-up purely as a slogger. Having played more than 400 T20 games around the world, Narine’s economy rate under six is quite remarkable and speaks volumes of his abilities. He will have his KKR teammate Andre Russell in the same squad for the ILT20 alongside the Carribean flavour of Ravi Rampaul, Akeal Hossein, Raymon Reifer and Kennar Lewis.

Something I'm really looking forward to: Sunil Narine 

Narine noted about the responsibility changes with the new role coming to him. He also heaped praises on the KKR family, stating that they have always supported him. He added about the UAE conditions being quite familiar to him and added that he is delighted to have a lot of senior players in the group which will ease a bit of pressure off him.  

"It's a new challenge, because now I have to think about the functioning of our whole team, rather than just focus on my game or my four overs. It's something I'm really looking forward to. I have grown on Knight Riders, and Knight Riders have grown on me, so it's like a family. Everywhere they have a team, I love being a part of it,” Narine said in a statement released by the franchise. 

“I have played a lot of cricket in the UAE, so I know the conditions pretty well. If you look at the ADKR squad, it is a familiar setup, and not a brand new XI that I have to get used to. So that gives me great confidence, knowing the strength of my players. There are a lot of senior guys in the team as well, who I can bounce ideas and information off. It's going to be a lot of fun, it has been a long journey with the Knight Riders family, and I hope it's a never-ending one," he added.