Sunil Narine becomes third bowler to claim 600 T20 wickets

West Indies veteran Sunil Narine etched his name deeper into T20 history on Wednesday, December 3, becoming only the third bowler to claim 600 wickets in competitive T20 cricket. The achievement came during an International League T20 fixture in Sharjah, where the mystery spinner, representing Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, dismissed Tom Abell to reach the milestone against the Sharjah Warriorz.

Narine’s entry into the 600-wicket club places him alongside two of the format’s greatest performers, Rashid Khan, who leads with 681 wickets, and Dwayne Bravo, who has 631. The feat further reinforces Narine’s status as one of the most impactful and reliable bowlers the T20 game has seen. After the match, the Knight Riders franchise honoured him with a special ‘600’ jersey, celebrating a decorated career defined by precision and longevity.

"The Knight Riders family stands immensely proud of Narine's extraordinary achievement, recognizing that this record may well stand the test of time as one of cricket's most enduring milestones," a statement from Knight Riders said as quoted by Times of India.

The 37-year-old continues to trouble batters around the world with his trademark variations and outstanding economy rate. His legacy stretches across the Knight Riders’ global network, having represented Kolkata Knight Riders, Trinbago Knight Riders, Abu Dhabi Knight Riders, and Los Angeles Knight Riders, making him the franchise group’s most decorated bowling figure.

While Narine’s milestone dominated the headlines, the ILT20 clash produced plenty of entertainment on the field. Liam Livingstone hammered a blistering 82 off just 38 deliveries, propelling Abu Dhabi Knight Riders to a towering 233/4, the second-highest total in the tournament’s history. His assault peaked in the final over, where he smashed five sixes, including four successive blows off Dwaine Pretorius.

Sharjah Warriorz responded with a spirited chase led by Tim David’s explosive 60 off 24 balls, but they eventually fell short, finishing at 194. Despite Adil Rashid’s commendable 2/31, the Warriorz succumbed to a 39-run defeat. Yet, the night unmistakably belonged to Narine, now a proud member of T20 cricket’s exclusive 600-wicket club.