When you think about successful partnerships in sports, a strong bond between a player and their team often stands out. Groups that share a history of loyalty and sticking together are usually the ones that shine. This is especially true in cricket, where a bowler’s success over several years with the same team really starts to shape both their performance and the team’s identity. Take legendary players like Sunil Narine and Lasith Malinga, for instance. They built amazing careers with their respective IPL teams, raking in not just runs, but profits, too. Let’s take a closer look at five bowlers who have had remarkable successes in the T20 format while playing for a single club, all while racking up a ton of wickets.
5. David Payne (Gloucestershire) – 193 Wickets
David Payne has carved out quite the niche for himself at Gloucestershire, grabbing 193 wickets while playing in England’s T20 Blast since 2010. In his time, he has bowled in 140 innings across 142 matches. Last season was a standout for him when he nabbed 33 wickets in just 17 innings, showcasing how impactful he can be. His bowling average sits impressively at 12.75, and he kept batters at bay with an economy rate of just 6.29 runs per over. His overall stats for Gloucestershire break down to 193 wickets at an average of 20.35, including four times he took four wickets in a game and even once took five. Almost 80% of his T20 career wickets (249) have come while wearing the Gloucestershire colors.
4. Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) – 195 Wickets
Now, let’s talk about Lasith Malinga, a true icon of the game. He spent his entire decade-long IPL career with the Mumbai Indians, where he has become the franchise’s all-time leading wicket-taker, racking up 195 wickets (counting both IPL and CLT20) in just 137 innings. That gives him a phenomenal average of 19.35. Most of his impressive tally—170 wickets—came from 122 innings in the IPL, proving just how much of a force he was on the field. Malinga didn’t just rack up wickets; he also helped the Mumbai Indians secure the title four times during his tenure.
3. Chris Wood (Hampshire) – 199 Wickets
Then we have Chris Wood, who hails from Hampshire and has made his mark by taking 199 out of his total 214 T20 wickets for Hampshire’s T20 team. Even though he hasn’t played internationally yet, he’s been a key player for his club in the domestic scene. Over the course of 176 T20 Blast games, Wood claimed 191 wickets at an average of 25.76, including three instances where he took four wickets in a single game and even had one five-wicket haul since joining in 2010.
2. Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) – 200 Wickets
Let’s not forget Sunil Narine, a prominent player in the T20 world who hit his 200th wicket mark for the Kolkata Knight Riders during the early part of the 2025 IPL season. He made his IPL debut in 2012 and took 67 wickets in his first three years alone, proving to be crucial during KKR’s title runs on two of those occasions. Narine continued to add to his tally, getting 17 more wickets when KKR celebrated its third championship in 2024. In total, he has amassed 182 wickets in the IPL and another 18 in the now-closed Champions League T20, reaching that exciting milestone of 200 wickets for KKR in just 187 innings with a solid average of 24.14.
1. Samit Patel (Nottinghamshire) – 208 Wickets
Finally, let’s talk about Samit Patel. From 2002 to 2023, he was a standout left-arm spinner for Nottinghamshire, collecting 208 wickets before moving on to Derbyshire. In total, he played 232 matches with a decent bowling average of about 25. Patel had his best Blast season in 2010 when he took 17 wickets and repeated that feat of getting 16 wickets in a single season on four separate occasions. When you add it all up, his T20 record shines with 352 wickets at an average of 26.05.
These players are prime examples of how fantastic long-term commitments can drive a bowler to great heights, not only for themselves but also for the teams they represent. Such contributions really help shape the legacies of both the players and their franchises in the world of cricket.
