IPL 2020: David Hussey feels KKR would be stupid to discontinue with Sunil Narine at the top

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have had a mediocre run in the on-going IPL 2020 so far. With two wins and two defeats in their first four matches, the Kolkata-based franchise is currently placed fourth in the points table.

Though Shubman Gill has been delivering impressive performances at the top, Sunil Narine’s woeful form while opening remains a concern for the Dinesh Karthik-led side. Narine, who has previously provided KKR with many blistering starts, has completely failed so far on the UAE wickets.

In four matches so far, Narine has failed to replicate his past batting exploits, scoring runs at a dismal average of 6.75 and a strike-rate of 87.09. Narine’s departure on just 3 in KKR’s recent IPL 2020 encounter against Delhi Capitals led to many fans question the Caribbean’s place in the team.

KKR’s title-winning skipper Gautam Gambhir also suggested that Narine should bat down at eight or nine, with Rahul Tripathi going up the order. “Rahul Tripathi goes up the order and Narine probably goes to bat at eight or nine,” opined Gambhir.

Sunil Narine is a genuine all-rounder: David Hussey

However, chief mentor of KKR, David Hussey, feels that Narine is a genuine all-rounder and he’s performed the opener’s role in the past with the franchise. It would be stupid if KKR decide to strip off the opening duties from Narine, according to Hussey. He further revealed that it’s head coach Brendon McCullum who has to make that ‘tough’ call about deciding the batting order of the side.

“He is a genuine all-rounder. Isn’t he? Fortunately, we’ve got a few genuine allrounders. Nitish Rana, Chris Green, Andre Russell of course, which is very handy. Opening the batting is probably not my strategy. You always generally try and protect your best players.

He’s one of the world’s best T20 bowlers or white ball bowlers throughout the world. But he’s done it so well, opening the batting for the Kolkata Knight Riders. It would be stupid not to continue with it as well. But fortunately, Brendon has to make those tough calls with the batting order, revealed Hussey in an interview with The Times of India.

Eyeing for their third victory of the tournament, Karthik’s men are next scheduled to face MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings on 7 October at Abu Dhabi.