West Indies spinner Sunil Narine has opened up about being called for illegal bowling action and how the right-hander coped up with it to make a comeback.
“It (being called for illegal bowling action in 2020) was tough! But at the end of the day, cricket was never easy for me. I had to work for everything I have. So, it was just like another stepping stone where I had to dig deep, work hard and come out on top,” Narine said in a short film “The Comeback King” that was released on Thursday.
KKR MD and CEO Venky Mysore suggested that Narine had become even more effective after tweaking his bowling action.
“The outcome was as rewarding as it could get, Narine continued his wizardry despite all the odds. There are very few, if any, who have had to modify their activities, come back and be as effective. I think he has been more effective.”
Head coach of KKR and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum said that it was a difficult phase for the spinner and he has overcome a lot in his career.
“It was a difficult phase for him, and he has overcome a lot (in his career). Perhaps, the officials haven’t understood the ramifications of the decisions that they were putting down on paper, it had a significant impact on Sunil,” said McCullum.
Narine played an important role in KKR’s decent run in the 2021 edition of the Indian Premier League where they ended as the runners up. The Caribbean cricketer scalped a total of 16 wickets in 14 matches that he played for the franchise in the season during the course.