Sunil Narine, the enigmatic West Indian all-rounder, has unequivocally ruled out a return to international cricket, despite his exceptional form for Kolkata Knight Riders in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL). Narine, 35, has been in scintillating form, leading the tournament’s MVP standings with a remarkable 109 not out from 56 balls against Rajasthan Royals last week, his maiden T20 century. He is also KKR’s joint-leading wicket-taker, with nine scalps at an impressive economy rate of 7.10.
Narine’s resurgence has sparked calls for his recall to the West Indies squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which will be hosted in the Caribbean and USA. West Indies’ T20I captain, Rovman Powell, has openly expressed his desire to have Narine back in the fold, but the off-spinner has remained adamant in his decision to stay retired.
In a statement issued by KKR, Narine expressed his gratitude for the support and well wishes he has received but reiterated his decision to remain retired from international cricket. “I’m truly flattered and humbled that my performances recently have moved many people to publicly express their wish for me to come out of retirement and play in the upcoming T20 World Cup,” Narine wrote. “I have made peace with that decision and whilst I never wish to disappoint, that door is now closed and I will be supporting the guys who take the field in June for West Indies.”
Narine’s decision is a blow to West Indies’ hopes of winning their third T20 World Cup title. The Caribbean side has struggled in recent years, failing to qualify for the Super 12 stage of the last two tournaments. Narine’s experience and skill would have been invaluable to a team looking to make a deep run in their home tournament.
However, Narine’s decision is understandable. He has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and has expressed a desire to spend more time with his family. He has also been critical of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in the past, accusing them of mismanagement and a lack of support for players.
Despite his absence from international cricket, Narine remains one of the most respected and feared players in the world. His performances in the IPL have shown that he is still capable of producing match-winning performances at the highest level.
