IPL 2024, DC vs KKR Strategic Corner - How Will DC Stop Sunil Narine?

Sunil Narine looked great with the bat against RCB [iplt20.com]Sunil Narine looked great with the bat against RCB [iplt20.com]

Delhi Capitals (DC) are ready to take on the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the 16th match of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2024). The match is scheduled for Dr. Y.S Rajasekhara International Cricket Stadium on April 3rd at 7:30 PM IST. 

The Capitals are coming into this game after a brilliant win against the Chennai Super Kings. They are getting their rhythm and looking to maintain the momentum with a win against an in-form KKR. 

The Shreyas Iyer-led unit has looked pretty good and seems to have covered most of its bases. It will be challenging for the Capitals to overhaul a team of impactful players. One of the biggest obstacles for Pant and his boys will be Sunil Narine, who has recovered his touch with the bat and looked destructive against RCB in the last game. 

Delhi need to see the back of Sunil Narine, or he can change the momentum of the game with his hitting. 


Why will Sunil Narine be a threat to the Delhi Capitals? 

  • During his captaincy stint at KKR, Gautam Gambhir showed great trust in Sunil Narine and repaid the faith with a brilliant all-round show. Narine was one of the biggest reasons KKR won the two titles under Gambhir's leadership. Now, GG is back as the team's mentor, and we are already witnessing a different Narine, especially with the bat. 
  • In the previous game against RCB, Narine played a dashing knock of 47 runs from 22 balls. His aggressive batting put KKR ahead in the game within the batting powerplay, and the team comfortably reached the target. His attacking approach at the top order can make the match one-sided and put DC out of the game.  
  • Narine is yet to fire as a bowler in IPL 2024. However, if his batting form stays sound, he will derive confidence from it, which might make him a lethal man to handle with the ball. If the West Indian comes to form with the ball, it will cause big trouble for DC in the game. 


Plan against Narine, the batter

In order to plan against Narine, we need to see where he was the most effective in the last game against the RCB. 

Length
Strike Rate
Line
Strike Rate
Yorker 0 Outside Off Stump 328.57
Full Length300Off Stump50
Good Length211.11 Middle-Stump0
Short of GL200Leg Stump600
Short of Length140Outside Leg Stump150

Table - Sunil Narine's strike rate at different line and lengths vs RCB

The numbers show that room on either side of wicket will be treated very harshly by Sunil Narine. He also enjoy balls at the pads and scored at a strike rate of 600 against RCB. The most conducive length for Narine has been the full and good length. It means, if the ball is near his feet, that is his are and he will take full toll of it. 


Plan DC can use against Narine [OneCricket]Plan DC can use against Narine [OneCricket]

The plan to contain him should be bowling at the wickets. Yorker is something Narine struggles to handle, but you cannot be predictable with it. The bowlers need to use the two-bouncer rule to set him and then follow it up with yorkers. They need to keep trying with yorkers of different varieties like- fast toe-crushing yorkers, or slower yorkers to deceive the bat flow of Narine.