IPL 2026: Sunil Narine Creates History, Joins 200-Wicket Club for KKR: Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) veteran spinner Sunil Narine has achieved a milestone in the history of the IPL that no overseas player has ever reached before. In the match played on Sunday, May 3, 2026, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad, Narine weaved his spin magic to cross the 200-wicket mark in the IPL.
A Memorable Spell Against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Before stepping onto the field for the 45th match of the tournament against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Narine had 199 wickets to his name.
He claimed 2 wickets for 31 runs in his spell, taking his total wicket tally to 201.
- Historic Wicket: Salil Arora became Narine’s 200th victim, whom he bowled out with one of his signature mystery deliveries.
- Double Blow: On the very last ball of the same over, he dismissed Ishan Kishan to complete his 201st wicket as well.
List of Highest Wicket-Takers in IPL History
Sunil Narine now firmly holds the third spot on the list of bowlers with the most wickets in the IPL.
| S.No. | Player | Wickets | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yuzvendra Chahal | 228 | PBKS, MI, RR, RCB |
| 2 | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | 215 | RCB, PWI, SRH |
| 3 | Sunil Narine | 201 | KKR |
| 4 | Piyush Chawla | 192 | KKR, PBKS, CSK, MI |
| 5 | Ravichandran Ashwin | 187 | CSK, DC, KXIP, RR, RPSG |
‘One Man Club’: Unique Record for a Single Franchise
This achievement of Narine is particularly special because he has become the first—and only—bowler to take 200 wickets while playing for a single franchise (KKR).
In this regard, he has even surpassed Mumbai Indians legends Jasprit Bumrah (186 wickets) and Lasith Malinga (170 wickets). His journey, which began in 2012, continues to unfold with the same intensity and sharpness to this day.
Sunil Narine’s Dominance in IPL: Career Stats & Economy Rate
Narine’s IPL career is not merely about the wickets he has taken, but equally about his miserly bowling (economy rate).
- Matches: 197
- Wickets: 201
- Economy Rate: 6.79 (which is truly incredible by T20 standards)
- Notable Performances: 4 wickets on 7 occasions, and 5 wickets on 1 occasion.
Narine’s Impact on KKR’s Success
Sunil Narine is not just a player; he has been the very backbone of the Kolkata Knight Riders. In every single IPL title that KKR has won to date (2012, 2014, and 2024), Narine has played a pivotal role.
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