"It's unfair for the player; I would have done the same thing" - Gambhir backs Narine in country vs club issue

Skipper Gambhir has backed his premier bowler Narine’s decision to stay back for the IPL final

KKR captain Gautam Gambhir has lauded team-mate Sunil Narine’s decision to play in the IPL final. Narine had been in a dilemma over the issue of playing in the final for his club or reaching the preparation camp back home in time to play in the Test series against New Zealand for the West Indies.

The West Indies Cricket Board had clearly stated that Narine needed to report to the national team on June1 – the same day he is scheduled to play the IPL final.

After Narine took the decision to stay in India for the final, WICB ruled him out of the Test series. His skipper, Gambhir, backed his decision completely though.

“It is unfair for the player. His team has reached the final and he is being forced to miss the final. Somewhere down the line, you as a cricketer don’t want to do that where you have taken the team to the final and you just walk away,” he said.

Gambhir even said that he would have done the same thing in such a position.

“It is just one game which is left and you have to leave that game. He has taken the right decision, he wanted to continue playing for KKR because it is an important game, not a dead rubber. Any player would have taken the decision, so I completely support him. If I were in his position, I would have done the same thing.”

So far, Narine has been the second highest wicket taker in the IPL behind Mohit Sharma. He has played a key role in ensuring KKR reached the final.