Kolkata Knight Riders Seek New Opening Partner for Sunil Narine
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a remarkable turnaround last season, clinching the IPL trophy for the third time, largely thanks to the explosive opening partnership of Sunil Narine and Phil Salt. However, with Salt now joining Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), KKR faces the challenge of finding a new partner for Narine ahead of their season opener.
From Struggles to Success
Historically, KKR struggled with their opening performances from 2020 to 2023, registering the worst average (25.8) and strike rate (122.3) in the league. The team experimented with various combinations but found little success until mentor Gautam Gambhir promoted Narine to the top of the order.
Phil Salt was a late addition to the squad, joining as Jason Roy’s replacement just weeks before the competition. Their partnership blossomed, amassing 559 runs in 12 innings, with Narine scoring 488 runs and Salt contributing 435 runs. They formed the most successful opening duo of the season, with six fifty-plus partnerships.
Finding the Right Fit
As KKR prepares for their opener against RCB at Eden Gardens, the spotlight shifts to who will fill Salt’s shoes. South African Quinton de Kock and Afghanistan’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz are strong contenders, though de Kock’s recent inactivity and Gurbaz’s underwhelming performance in the Champions Trophy put added pressure on Narine to lead the charge.
RCB’s New Look
Meanwhile, Salt will don the RCB jersey, partnering with Virat Kohli, who also faces the absence of his trusted opening partner, Faf du Plessis. Kohli and du Plessis had an impressive run in recent seasons, and Salt will need to step up to maintain that momentum.
AB de Villiers has high hopes for Salt, stating, “Salt is one of the most attacking players we’ve seen. He’ll take pressure off Virat.” With both teams looking to make a strong start, the upcoming clash promises to be an exhilarating opening act for IPL 2025.
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