IPL 2021: Brendon McCullum Hints Sunil Narine Could Make A Return vs CSK; Reveals The Reason For Spinner's Exclusion So Far

Brendon McCullum, Kolkata Knight Riders head coach, revealed that Sunil Narine has not been completely fit and hence wasn’t available for selection for their first three matches in the IPL 2021.

It has been odd looking at the teamsheet of the Knight Riders this season, and not finding the name of the ever-present West Indian all-rounder in it. Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan has played in the three games so far and fared decently. But KKR missed Narin’s threat with the ball, if not his batting, as they lost two of the three games in Chennai.

They have completed their Chennai leg and move to Mumbai for their next couple of games; Eoin Morgan’s side takes on the Chennai Super Kings on Wednesday, in which, Brendon McCullum hinted they could have the services of Narine, who was “touch and go” for the game against RCB. Narine has picked 127 wickets for KKR and has been the crucial cog in both of KKR’s title victories.

“Sunil Narine stood on the rope before our first game which means he has had an injury where he was not 100 per cent fit. He certainly comes into our calculations, he was touch and go for this game against RCB but we opted for Shakib who has been good for us and he gives us an extra bit of batting.

“After three games, the guys have played well, we have not got the results, we probably would need some fresh legs for slightly different wickets in Mumbai,” Brendon McCullum said after their defeat to RCB.

Glenn Maxwell took the game away from us in a crunch situation: Brendon McCullum

The former New Zealand captain opined that it was Glenn Maxwell who took the game away from them with his counter-attacking after Varun Chakravarthy picked up two wickets in the second over RCB’s innings. The Australian launched a counter-attack and in quick time turned the tide on the KKR bowlers.

“In the past, we have not been made to plan much as Maxwell has not been in top form but it appears, he has come this year with a really refreshed attitude. He is taking the game on, we have seen him being successful in the Big Bash and Australia.

“He took the game away from us in a crunch situation but if we had our time again, we would have tried few different things,” Brendon McCullum asserted.

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