IPL 2018: KKR vs RCB: 5 talking points

#2 Sunil Narine's pinch-hitter role

Narine brought up his fifty off just 18 balls

The mystery spinner from West Indies, Sunil Narine, headed into IPL 2018 on the back of having to rework his bowling action yet again, after the latest instance of the legality of his action being thrown into question.

Not only did he do a fantastic job with the ball, conceding just 30 runs from his 4 overs, while also picking up the key wicket of Brendon McCullum, Narine proved the perfect pinch-hitter for KKR just like he did so many times during IPL 2017.

He scored 224 runs during the tenth edition of the IPL, at a strike rate of 172.30, with the highlight being his 17-ball 54 against the RCB, at Bengaluru, which helped his side chase down a target of 159 with nearly 5 overs to spare.

RCB was at the receiving end yet again on Sunday as Narine, having lost out his fastest IPL fifty record to KL Rahul earlier in the day, nearly reclaimed the record as he hammered the opposition to all parts of the ground.

He reached his fifty off just 18 balls, before being bowled by former KKR teammate Umesh Yadav, and his knock proved crucial in KKR's victory.

The leadership may have changed at KKR but there is unlikely to be any change in where Narine bats for the rest of the IPL as well.