Kolkata skipper says spinner's mental fortitude would serve him well as remodelled action gets first test
Gambhir banking on Narine's toughness
Sunil Narine's mental toughness will be crucial in his return to bowling with a remodelled action, Kolkata Knight Riders skipper Gautam Gambhir believes.
The West Indies spinner was cleared to play in the Indian Premier League on Sunday and will line up for Kolkata in tonight's opener against Mumbai Indians at Eden Gardens.
Gambhir said he was reluctant to pass judgement on how effective Narine would be with his remodelled action until after the spinner had played, but said his mental fortitude would serve him well.
"In such situations you need to be mentally tough to absorb what has happened," Gambhir said.
"To come back in such a short span of time has shown how mentally tough he is.
"It is going to be an advantage when he comes and plays the game (against Mumbai)."
Image Id: ~/media/A3DBB1BC67304D01B9C6C64D8A884511Gautam Gambhir and Sunil Narine // Getty Images
Narine was twice reported for a suspect action during the 2014 Champions League Twenty20 and was banned from playing for Kolkata in the final of the tournament as a result.
He removed himself from contention for the West Indies' World Cup squad as he underwent remedial work and had his action cleared in testing at the ICC accredited facility at Loughborough, England.
However, the BCCI ordered Narine undergo a second test at their facility in Chennai last week.
Quick single: Narine’s action cleared by the BCCI
"We were always very confident of him remodelling his action," Gambhir said.
"I have always felt and said in the past that he is an integral part of the Knight Riders and will always be an integral part of the team.
"Hats off to him that he has changed his action in such a short span of time."
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Kolkata have no shortage of spinners in their line-up with left-arm orthodox bowler Kuldeep Yadav returning and the additions of Australian veteran Brad Hogg and 20-year-old mystery spinner KC Cariappa, but Gambhir said they were never looking to replace Narine.
"We never thought that we wanted a back-up spinner for Sunil. There can't be a backup for him.
"I have always maintained that even if he bowls a straight ball, it is going to be a kind of advantage.
"I think he has always been an asset for us and will always be one. That is the confidence we have."