Sunil Narine makes T20 cricket history by becoming the first bowler to claim 200 wickets, cementing his legacy as one of the format’s greatest spinners. (Image Credit: IPL.com)
Mystery spinner Sunil Narine has once again carved his name in cricket history. He became the first bowler ever to claim 600 wickets in competitive T20 cricket by taking a wicket in the latest ILT20 match for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders-ADKR, thus underlining his enduring excellence and adaptability in the shortest format of the game.
Narine reached this milestone when he dismissed Tom Abell in a match against Sharjah Warriorz, and that speaks volumes about his longevity and consistency across T20 leagues of the world, starting from the early days of the Indian Premier League to the recent spells in ILT20 and other franchisee tournaments.
Over the years, Narine has represented several franchises: KKR, Trinbago Knight Riders, Los Angeles Knight Riders, and now ADKR-and across these, he's maintained a rare blend of mystery, control, and wicket-taking ability.
Sunil Narine has become the only bowler in cricket history to cross the 600-wicket mark in competitive T20 cricket, as of December 2025.
He has also been the most outstanding T20 performer for one franchise alone: during the 2025 season, Narine became the leading wicket-taker among bowlers for a solitary men's T20 team worldwide - taking 210 wickets for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 198 matches, surpassing previous holders.
He had already joined the 500-wicket club in T20S even before this, underlining that his current feat is a culmination of long-term consistency.
These are the statistics that put him in the company of elite wicket-takers such as Rashid Khan and Dwayne Bravo, and just how truly rare a 600-wicket count is in a format as volatile as T20.
Sunil Narine has long been considered one of the masters of variation and control in T20 cricket. Unlike bowlers reliant on pace or turn, the brilliance of Narine lies in his subtle changes of flight, pace, and trajectory that have regularly deceived even the most attacking T20 batters. His ability to stay economical and pick crucial wickets has made him one of the most reliable and impactful bowlers in this format.
What has set Narine further apart is his remarkable adaptability across conditions and teams. From bowling on slow, turning Caribbean pitches to the flat, batting-friendly tracks in India and the Middle East, he has returned match-winning performances with consistency. His success across multiple leagues-including the IPL, ILT20, CPL, BBL, and others-highlights a versatility that is rare in modern cricket, where even specialists struggle outside familiar conditions.
