NEW DELHI: Veteran all-rounder Sunil Narine rolled back the years with a vintage all-round performance as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) defeated Delhi Capitals by 14 runs at the Arun Jaitley Stadium on Tuesday to stay alive in the playoff race of IPL 2025.
While KKR’s collective effort stood out, it was Narine’s night as he etched his name into T20 cricket’s record books by equalling Samit Patel’s record for the most wickets for a single team in T20s. With 208 wickets now for KKR, Narine shares the top spot with Patel, who took an identical number for Nottinghamshire.
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Most wickets for a team in Men’s T20 cricket
- 208 – Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire)
- 208 – Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders)
- 199 – Chris Wood (Hampshire)
- 195 – Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians)
- 193 – David Payne (Gloucestershire)
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Should Sunil Narine be considered one of the greatest all-rounders in T20 cricket history?
Sent in to bat first by Delhi skipper Axar Patel, KKR got off to a blazing start courtesy Narine. The West Indian smashed 27 off just 16 balls, including two sixes and two fours, stitching a 48-run opening stand with Rahmanullah Gurbaz (26 off 12) in just three overs. Youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi (44 off 32) and Rinku Singh (36 off 25) guided the innings through the middle overs to help KKR post a competitive 204 for 9.
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Defending the total, Narine once again rose to the occasion. In a crucial spell, he removed Axar Patel (43 off 23) and dangerous finisher Tristan Stubbs in the 14th over, just as Delhi seemed to be inching ahead in the chase. He returned in the 16th over to dismiss the well-set Faf du Plessis (62 off 45), effectively sealing the contest. Narine ended with 3 for 29 and was deservedly named Player of the Match.
Reflecting on the win and his milestone, Narine said, “It was a total team effort. I still back myself to come back and deliver. There are games where you don’t start well but end well. It’s all wickets, not just one I enjoy. I just swing and throw the ball as hard as possible — self-pride keeps me going. I always want to be an option for my captain in pressure situations.”
After the win, KKR are seventh in the standings with nine points from ten matches, keeping their playoff hopes alive in a tight mid-table contest.
