Yusuf Pathan: KKR 'need to think about' Sunil Narine and Andre Russell
"If you look at the last few seasons, their performance hasn't been as good," says the former allrounder
ESPNcricinfo staff
14-May-2023
Andre Russell and Sunil Narine's form hasn't been great this season • BCCI
Yusuf Pathan, the former India and Kolkata Knight Riders allrounder, feels that with Sunil Narine and Andre Russell not at their best consistently, perhaps it's time the KKR management starts looking beyond them.
"We should see how Narine and Russell have performed in the last three years, or how many match-winning performances they have put in with bat or ball," Pathan said on ESPNcricinfo's show T20 Time:Out Hindi.
"As a team, what do you think? If you want to look ahead to the future and go to the next level, then you should surely think about it, because if you look at the last few seasons, their performance hasn't been as good. As a senior player, there are expectations from you that you would get wickets or runs. If you are not able to do it, then you will have to face the questions."
So far in IPL 2023, Narine has managed only seven wickets in 12 games, his economy of 8.50 being the worst for him in an IPL season. His returns with bat have also diminished. Once an attacking opener, he no longer bats at the top of the innings, and has 153 runs at an average of 6.95 in the last three IPL seasons.
Russell, meanwhile, has a strike of over 150 in each of the last three IPLs. However, in terms of the volume of runs, he has perhaps failed to live up to the expectations at times. He scored 183 runs in nine innings in 2021; 335 in 12 in 2022; and 218 in 12 so far this year.
However, with ball, just like Narine, his economy of 11.29 this season is the worst for him in the tournament's history. Moreover, there are always concerns about his bowling fitness.
When asked if their age was catching up - Russell turned 35 last month, and Narine will reach there in a couple of weeks' time - Pathan held it wasn't the case.
"I don't think age should be a factor, because there are others of similar age who are still playing, and are performing well too," he said. "Plus, both of them play around the year. I feel if you are playing the entire year, then your body is in good shape.
"I am not able to figure out what is going wrong. These two are your match-winners, and when your match-winners don't perform, your team struggles. Perhaps fatigue could be a reason as they play the entire year. Having said that, everyone wants and expects them to do well."