Sunil Narine, who missed KKR’s previous match due to illness, is expected to return for the clash against MI.
In a major boost for defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), star all-rounder Sunil Narine is set to return to the playing XI for their next IPL 2025 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Narine missed KKR’s previous game against Rajasthan Royals (RR), which they won by eight wickets in Guwahati.
According to a report by ESPNCricinfo, Narine fell ill on the morning of KKR’s last match, leading to his absence. However, he has resumed training and is expected to be available for selection. Moeen Ali replaced Narine in that game and made a solid impact with the ball, taking 2/23 in four overs by dismissing Yashasvi Jaiswal and Nitish Rana.
“I’ve been practising well and I just try to be ready all the time. I was told this morning that Sunny [Narine] was not well and to just be ready whenever. Obviously, hard to replace Sunny, but I felt like I did a nice job of it,” Moeen said after the match.
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Moeen delivered with the ball but struggled with the bat while opening the innings, managing just five runs off 12 deliveries. Reflecting on his performance, Moeen said, “You’re just waiting for your turn and when the chance comes, you try and take it as much as you can. But on some wickets like today, I probably used my experience as much as I could to actually keep it simple, keep the stumps in play, keep the line to the left-handers in particular quite straight and just try and spin the ball.”
Narine Joined Team Celebrations After Match
As per the report, Narine required medical attention but returned to the team hotel by evening and joined the team’s post-match celebrations. Narine, a vital cog in KKR’s setup since 2012, impressed during their season opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite the team’s loss at home. KKR will take confidence from their 24-run win over MI at Wankhede in 2024 — their first victory at the venue in 12 years — proving that the stadium is no longer an impenetrable fortress for the five-time champions.
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