Sunil Narine has moved further into IPL legend after becoming only the third bowler to cross the 200-wicket mark in the competition. The left-arm spinner also became the first overseas player to reach that milestone, a feat that highlights both his staying power and his match-winning impact over the years.
Quick facts
- 200-wicket milestone: Sunil Narine (first overseas player to reach it in IPL)
- Most wickets in IPL (economy rate): 228 – Yuzvendra Chahal (8.02), 215 – Bhuvneshwar Kumar (7.68), 201 – Sunil Narine (6.79), 192 – Piyush Chawla (7.96), 187 – Ravichandran Ashwin (7.20), 186 – Jasprit Bumrah (7.32), 183 – Dwayne Bravo (8.38)
- Milestone match: Kolkata Knight Riders vs Sunrisers Hyderabad
- Narine’s key moment: two wickets in a crucial spell to derail SRH, finishing the match with 200 IPL wickets
- Spin duo impact: Varun Chakravarthy’s 3/36 and Narine’s decisive burst; together they took 5/67
The landmark arrived in Kolkata Knight Riders’ encounter with Sunrisers Hyderabad, where Narine struck twice during a pivotal phase to swing momentum back in KKR’s favour. It was a pressure spell that turned the contest after SRH had looked set to control proceedings.
Before the KKR spin challenge took over, Travis Head had set a blistering tone for the visitors. He raced to 61 off just 28 deliveries, quickly putting SRH on the front foot. Support also came from Ishan Kishan, who contributed 42 off 29 balls as the hosts surged to 105/1 by the ninth over following a strong powerplay.
Yet once KKR’s spinners found their rhythm, the game changed shape rapidly. Varun Chakravarthy, despite conceding runs early, disrupted the flow by removing Head, and that dismissal triggered a collapse.
A sharp catch by Rovman Powell then ended Heinrich Klaasen’s stay in the middle for a low score, and wickets began to fall in quick succession. With the batting order under pressure, Narine delivered the decisive blow—claiming two wickets in a single over to complete his 200th IPL scalp.
By the end of their spellwork, the duo had done the damage together: Chakravarthy finished with 3/36, while Narine’s haul helped ensure their combined tally of 5/67. From a position that looked comfortable for SRH, the innings unravelled completely.
Sunrisers Hyderabad were eventually bowled out for 165 in 19 overs, handing KKR a clinical turnaround. It was a comeback that felt increasingly inevitable as the wickets kept tumbling—Kolkata will be the happier side after a dominant bowling performance that capped Narine’s historic milestone.
