IPL 2021: Sunil Narine at number four or five is a waste of time – Sunil Gavaskar

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar believes batting Sunil Narine at number four or five is a waste of time and waste of space. Gavaskar feels KKR should promote Narine to the top of the order if they need to get the best out of the left-hander.

The southpaw hasn’t been able to deliver the goods with the bat while batting in the middle order for KKR.

Gavaskar also feels that KKR batsmen don’t have enough class in their batting. The Little Master added that apart from Shubman Gill and Eoin Morgan, there is hardly any class in KKR’s batting order and both of these batters are horribly out of form. KKR have failed to put up a collective batting order, which has led to the downfall of the team.

In fact, KKR’s batting order is also hard to understand. They are not making the most of Andre Russell’s pyrotechnics as the power-hitter is batting at number six or seven. Thus, Russell is not getting enough balls to make an impact.

Nitish Rana and Shubman Gill have failed to provide consistent starts to their team and they haven’t been able to give a good platform. Gavaskar had earlier stated KKR should open with Sunil Narine and Rahul Tripathi, who is in good form in the ongoing season.

“It’s difficult, isn’t it? (Turnaround). To be honest, they don’t have too many classy batsmen. I don’t know how many in the dug-out they can look to and say ‘why don’t you come in and bat?’,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.

“If you have a look at their batting, apart from Shubman Gill, and Morgan himself, there is no class. Apart from Andre Rusell down at 5 or 6 and Dinesh Karthik I would look at promoting Karthik up the order or Rahul Tripathi up the order.

“Sunil Narine, at 4 or 5, is a waste of time, waste of space. It doesn’t make any sense having him there. If you want to have Narine, have him at the top of the order where can throw his bat around, and connect a few.

“KKR’s problem is that they haven’t got anybody in that 3, 4 or 5 who can play an impact innings. That is making a big difference in the side,” he added.

KKR will need to come up with a collective batting effort to turn the tables in the coming matches. They have lacked the intent in their batting, which has led to their downfall. KKR head coach Brendon McCullum has also suggested that the team might make a few changes to their playing XI in the forthcoming matches.

KKR have won only two matches out of the seven they have played and they are in muddle. The Eoin Morgan-led team will next face RCB at the same venue on 3rd May.