In a significant shake-up ahead of the SAT20 2026 season, Durban Super Giants have pulled off a stunning double swoop pre-signing West Indies veteran Sunil Narine and England white-ball superstar Jos Buttler. Both marquee players come on board as pre-signed overseas recruits before the league’s mega auction, signaling DSG’s intent to dominate in the coming season.

Sunil Narine, long regarded as one of the most tactically intelligent T20 players, brings not just his unique bowling skills but also power-hitting credentials and captaincy experience. Speaking on his signing, Narine said, “Being invited to be part of the Super Giants family is an opportunity I value. I’ve heard great things about Mr. Goenka’s vision and the setup.” His addition gives DSG a versatile all-round option and a proven performer in high-pressure games.

Meanwhile, Jos Buttler’s move is seen as a massive coup. Having previously represented Paarl Royals, the English captain now shifts camps and becomes a centrepiece in Durban’s strategy. “I've had a great chat with Dr. Sanjiv Goenka and can’t wait to get stuck in with DSG,” Buttler said. His explosive starts at the top of the order and world-class finishing ability make him an ideal fit for the franchise.

Delighted to have @Heini22 and @noor_ahmad_15 continuing as key members of the @DurbansSG family, and a warm welcome to @josbuttler and Sunil Narine. Looking forward to the auction and an exciting season ahead. #SA20 #DSG pic.twitter.com/ImFPgErbYS

— Dr. Sanjiv Goenka (@DrSanjivGoenka) July 23, 2025

ALSO SEE: [WATCH] Kane Williamson celebrates maiden Country Championship 2025 century for Middlesex

DSG Flex Their Muscles with Star Signings and Key Retentions Ahead of SAT20 Auction

The franchise isn’t stopping at just overseas firepower. They’ve retained South African wicketkeeper-batter Heinrich Klaasen as their wildcard pick, an aggressive middle-order option who has been a consistent performer for DSG. Afghan left-arm spinner Noor Ahmad, another match-winner in the shortest format, has also been retained.

This aggressive pre-auction strategy sends a clear message to the rest of the league: Durban’s Super Giants are building a squad that blends experience, firepower, and tactical flexibility. With Narine and Buttler joining Klaasen and Noor Ahmad, DSG’s core is shaping up to be one of the strongest heading into the 2026 season. The SAT20 auction is still to come, but DSG has already drawn first blood, and the rest of the league will be watching closely.

It’s the story from the Kolkata Knight Riders’ (KKR) camp, just before the start of the T20 World Cup 2024, in the West Indies and the United States of America (USA). It was a tournament where the entire Caribbean wanted their mystery and successful spinner, Sunil Narine, to make a comeback in the national side. 

Their head coach, Darren Sammy, tried multiple times to convince Sunil to return to the side, who looked a bit thin in the spin department in the presence of only Akeal Hosein. The famous journalist, Vimal Kumar, during a recent interaction on Sony Sports Network, has leaked a story from the KKR campaign, when Narine gave the West Indies players a condition to feature in the home T20 World Cup 2024. 

SEE ALSO: WATCH: Jasprit Bumrah cleans up Harry Brook in ongoing ENG vs IND third Test at Lord’s

“I can say it’s exclusive; it’s the story of Sunil Narine!! He retired from international cricket in 2023, but their national players, Rovman Powell and Dwayne Bravo, wanted him to return to the national team. Narine wasn’t sure even after so many discussions, as the former players went to Gautam Gambhir to have a word with the spinner. After Gambhir spoke to him during a net session to accept the request, Narine turned back and asked him a simple question, ‘Will you coach me?’ Vimal Kumar narrated.

Watch: Sunil Narine keeps one condition to play T20 World Cup 2024

That statement was incredible from the veteran West Indies player, who was ready to make a return to the T20Is only if Gambhir coaches them. That shows the immense respect he has for his former captain and current coach on the KKR side. Narine could have made a huge difference for the Powell-led side in the World Cup 2024.

🗣️ WATCH : Never heard story by Vimal Kumar on Sunil Narine about how he almost played the T20 WC 2024.

BUT HIS ONE CONDITION?
GG🥺pic.twitter.com/RExiMd7uLw

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) July 11, 2025

In 49 T20I innings, the 37-year-old has picked up 52 wickets at an average of 21.25 and a strike rate of 21.1 besides an economy rate of just over six, thanks to the best bowling figures of 4/12. In the T20s around the globe, he has collected 589 wickets in 544 innings at an average of under 22 and an economy rate of just over six.

The West Indies qualified for the super eight stage, but went on to lose a do-or-die clash against South Africa and were out of the event. The two-time champions, overall, weren’t at their best in all three departments of the game.

Since T20 Cricket was introduced more than two decades ago, the format was dominated by the batters, but as more T20 matches were held, bowlers became more accurate by sharpening their skills and by working on their variety. Bowlers became smarter and adjusted their lengths depending on the wickets and playing conditions to outfox the batters. The bowlers worked on bowling wicket-taking deliveries. In this piece, we discuss three bowlers who have racked up the most wickets in T20 cricket.

 The players mentioned in the list have showcased their skills time and again to get crucial breakthroughs for their sides that have changed the outcome of many matches. The bowlers mentioned in the list possess different skill sets depending on their strengths to bowl in different conditions and wickets, but their efficiency and consistency in taking crucial wickets have been second to none. We discuss these bowlers in detail:

1.Sunil Narine (574 wickets in 536 T20 games)

The former West Indian spinner has been among the most popular T20 players in the shorter format, as the spinner has played for different franchises in different T20 leagues globally. Narine has claimed 574 wickets in 536 T20 games in his T20 career so far.

He has this ability to change the length at the last moment by outsmarting the batters. Narine's variety enables him to take wickets on flat batting surfaces. The 37-year-old's bounce and flight are difficult to judge, making him a deadly option.

2.Imran Tahir (531 wickets in 428 T20 games)

The former South African leg spinner's deceptive length has troubled the batters. Tahir can outsmart the batters with his googlies and faster ones as the 46-year-old changes his length, keeping in mind a batter's strength.

Tahir doesn't turn the ball a long way, but his ability to attack the stumps and his ability to hold his line contain the runs and even help him get wickets. He has claimed 531 wickets in 428 T20 games. Tahir has the reputation of getting breakthroughs during the middle overs.

Also Read:Full list of catch efficiency in Tests at Slips and Gully since 2023 ft. India

3.Shakib Al Hasan (492 wickets in 444 T20 games)

Undoubtedly amongst the most skilful off-spinners in modern-day cricket, Shakib's length is difficult to read due to his round-arm action. Shakib uses his wrists and fingers cleverly, enabling him to turn the ball.

His flight and his ability to use the popping crease cleverly enable him to land the ball in the right areas, helping him gain wickets consistently in the T20 format. His biggest strength is his ability to take wickets during pressure situations. The left-arm spinner has claimed 492 wickets in 444 T20 games in his career.

The Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) have confirmed their team for the 2025 Caribbean Premier League, paving the way for a thrilling campaign. Looking to recover from a patchy spell of performances in past seasons, TKR has retained a solid core and strengthened with proven overseas players to support their title quest. The revelation came during the CPL draft that took place on June 18, providing fans with a first-hand glimpse at the squads of all six teams.

Knight Riders have held on to T20 veterans like Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, and Akeal Hosein to ensure leadership and experience do not get affected. Their foreign roster is comprised of the likes of Alex Hales, Mohammad Amir, Colin Munro, Usman Tariq, and Ali Khan, which provides them with strength and depth in all departments. The 2025 CPL tournament will start on 14 August and end with the final on 21 September, covering the length and breadth of the Caribbean and ending in Guyana.

This year's draft saw a special rule: the last three rounds were for West Indies Breakout League players. Every team has to have at least one such young player in every game, promoting youth development in the league. Trinbago Knight Riders reacted positively by selecting a number of promising youngsters to go along with their veteran group.

See Also: CPL 2025: Guyana Amazon Warriors announce their squad for upcoming season

Trinbago Knight Riders Squad for CPL 2025

The Trinbago Knight Riders 2025 team consists of Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Sunil Narine, Nicholas Pooran, Alex Hales, Akeal Hosein, Mohammad Amir, Colin Munro, Usman Tariq, Ali Khan, Darren Bravo, Yannic Cariah, Keacy Carty, Terrance Hinds, McKenny Clarke, Joshua Da Silva, and Nathan Edward.

🚨 CPL Update

TKR have announced their squad for CPL 2025. They've signed following overseas players :

Mohammad Amir 🇵🇰
Usman Tariq 🇵🇰
Alex Hales 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿
Colin Munro 🇳🇿
Ali Khan 🇺🇸#CPL2025 pic.twitter.com/qN6ptZoBhV

— T20 Franchise Rosters (Men) (@t20tracker) June 18, 2025

On Tuesday, June 17 (Indian time June 18), the Washington Freedom vs Los Angeles Knight Riders (WAS vs LAS) match will be played in the eighth match of the MLC 2025 at the Oakland Coliseum in Oakland.   

Andre Russell: Caribbean all-rounder Andre Russell isn't consistent enough with the bat at present. After scoring 57* and 38 in early May of the IPL 2025, Russell has scored 0, 15, 0, and 1 in the last four games, respectively. In this MLC 2025, Russell recorded one wicket in each of the two games, but also conceded 40+ runs in each game. 

Sunil Narine: Although Sunil Narine scored a duck and was wicketless in the last game for Los Angeles Knight Riders, he started the MLC 2025 with 27 off 13 balls after picking up one wicket.

Glenn Maxwell: Although Glenn Maxwell isn't in strong form, he scored a match-winning 38 not out off 20 balls in their last game with the help of three fours and three sixes. 

The 2025 edition of Major League Cricket kicked off on June 12, with a commanding performance by the San Francisco Unicorns, who thrashed Washington Freedom by a staggering 123 runs. As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to seeing several top-tier T20 stars—fresh from their IPL stints—bringing their flair and explosive style to the MLC. With global attention turning to the American T20 scene, these players are set to dazzle once again as they don the jerseys of their respective MLC franchises.

In this feature, we spotlight five such players who are poised to deliver standout performances in the ongoing season. Having impressed with their consistency and match-winning efforts during the IPL, these cricketers are expected to carry that momentum into MLC 2025. Their recent form, combined with their experience in pressure situations, makes them ones to watch as the tournament unfolds. Let’s take a closer look at these potential game-changers.

5. Sunil Narine (LA Knight Riders)

The former West Indian cricketer is among the star players in the ongoing MLC. The 36-year-old performed well with the bat as well as with the ball in the recently concluded IPL season, scoring 246 runs with a strike rate of 170 and claiming 12 wickets with his clever off-break.

Sunil Narine will be captaining the team this season. LA Knight Riders would be looking to improve their performance from the last season, when they finished 5th.

4. Faf Du Plessis (Texas Super Kings)

The former South African skipper and batter played for Delhi Capitals during the 2025 IPL season and is captaining the Texas Super Kings in the ongoing MLC.

 Last season, Faf Du Plessis scored 520 runs for TSK with an average of 52.50 and will be aiming to perform well this season also. TSC performed decently last season and were third in the points table, but this time around, they would be aiming to win the trophy.

See Also: Watch: SEA vs WAS : Match 04 Weather and Pitch Report – MLC 2025

3. Heinrich Klaasen (Seattle Orcas)

Klaasen, who recently retired from International cricket, played a crucial role for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recently concluded IPL 2025, scoring 487 runs in 13 innings. He is named as the captain of the Seattle Orcas during the ongoing MLC.

The former South African wicket-keeper batter could score just 97 runs in 7 MLC games last season, but this time around, the right-hander would be aiming to showcase his prowess with the bat.

2. Trent Boult (MI New York)

Boult bowled brilliantly for Mumbai Indians during the 2025 IPL season, claiming 22 wickets and finishing joint third in the wicket-taking list. The left-arm Kiwi pacer will be representing MI New York in the 2025 MLC.

Boult performed impressively during the 2023 MLC season, claiming 22 wickets, but had an ordinary 2024 season where he claimed 9 wickets. This time around, Boult's form would be crucial if the MI New York sees itself as a contender for winning the trophy.

1. Nicolas Pooran (MI New York)

The former West Indian cricketer, who retired from International cricket recently, looked in fine form for Lucknow Super Giants in the 2025 IPL season, scoring 524 runs in the entire season with a strike rate of 196.

He will be captaining the MI New York team and will be hoping his side improves its standing in the points table as in the last season MI New York team finished 4th in the table. Pooran's destructive hitting and his ability to take the game away form the opposition with his aggressive intent will be crucial for MI New York.

Dwayne Bravo, the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) IPL 2025 mentor, posted a thrilling video on May 14, 2025, showing the arrival of West Indian players in India for the current tournament. The video, uploaded on Bravo's social media, shows Sunil Narine, Andre Russell, and Romario Shepherd, who arrived in India to play for their respective IPL teams. The IPL, which was suspended for a week following geopolitical tension before resuming on May 17, had the Caribbean stars joining it, adding another level of excitement to the league as it enters its decisive phase.

The camaraderie between the West Indian trio is brought out in the video, with Narine (KKR), Russell (KKR), and Shepherd (RCB) traveling together, reflecting their excitement about the IPL. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) fans, especially, welcomed Shepherd's arrival, as his addition bolsters their team, which is currently 2nd with 16 points from 11 games. Shepherd's participation, however, could be curtailed by England's ODI series against the West Indies, which conflicts with the latter part of the IPL, including the playoffs.

A Boost to IPL Teams

Shepherd's addition is a huge fillip for RCB, who signed him for INR 1.5 crore prior to the 2025 season. His all-round ability, with a T20I batting strike rate of close to 140 and a bowling average of less than 28, brings depth to RCB's lineup as they chase their maiden IPL title. Narine and Russell's inclusion strengthens KKR, even though they are 6th-placed with 11 points from 12 games.

Watch the video here

🚨🎥Mentor DJ Bravo, Andre Russell and Sunil Narine are back in India for remaining part of IPL 2025. 💜 pic.twitter.com/e2VyPXzpS3

— KKR Vibe (@KnightsVibe) May 14, 2025

Also Read: BCCI drops bomb shell update on replacement players of remainder of IPL 2025

The West Indian players' arrival has generated hope among fans, with the IPL to gain from their panache. But their availability is a cause of concern because of international obligations, putting franchises' depth to the test as the tournament moves closer to the June 3 final.

Virat Kohli is widely considered one of the best batters in the history of the game. There have been hardly any instances where the legendary India batter has looked out of sorts or looked in trouble facing any bowler. But recently, Virat expressed who he thought the toughest bowlers in each format of cricket were. It is clear from his vast experience at the highest level that Kohli is expressing players who have historically challenged him. Kohli's choices show not only his technical understanding but also respect for the top-class bowlers who have tested him over the years.

Kohli identified England's James Anderson as the toughest bowler he has faced when asked about Test cricket. The 36-year-old batter mentioned that Anderson's strength lies in how he can swing the ball both ways and also reverse swing the ball, particularly in English conditions. Kohli also touched on how Anderson feels particularly difficult to face due to his experience and ability to control all areas of the game, making him a difficult opponent for any batter, especially when the ball is swinging off the pitch or moving in the air.

In addition to it, when the ace India player was asked question about T20 cricket, he identified Sunil Narine as the toughest bowler he has faced so far. The former RCB spinner praised Narine for being the toughest and also said that Narine in T20 cricket was difficult to face due to his variations. Kohli also noted that Narine’s control over his line, length, and pace changes forces batters to guess and adapt constantly, making him a formidable presence in T20 matches around the world.

Watch the video here;

Virat Kohli picks the toughest bowlers to face:

Test cricket - Jimmy Anderson.
ODIs - Malinga (Adil Rashid toughest spinner).
T20s - Sunil Narine.pic.twitter.com/xOC1h17xLD

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) May 3, 2025

Lasith Malinga was toughest to face in ODIs

In ODI cricket, Virat Kohli identifies Lasith Malinga as one of the toughest pacers he has faced. He points to Malinga’s unorthodox action and his ability to generate late swing at high speeds as major challenges for any batter. Kohli acknowledges how Malinga's unpredictable deliveries, especially the toe-crushing yorkers, made him a unique threat during his prime. His pace, combined with movement, often left even top batters with little time to react, making him a standout bowler in ODI cricket.

When it comes to spin in ODIs, Kohli considers Adil Rashid to be one of the most challenging. He praises Rashid for cleverly disguising his variations while maintaining tight lines and lengths, which makes it difficult to read him. According to Kohli, Rashid’s consistency and subtle changes in pace limit scoring opportunities and keep batters under constant pressure. Kohli's selections reflect the high regard he has for bowlers who combine skill, strategy, and unpredictability—traits that elevate them in competitive international cricket across formats.

The 48th match of IPL 2025 was played between Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals at Arun Jaitley Cricket Stadium in Delhi. In this match, Kolkata Knight Riders defeated Delhi Capitals by 14 runs. In this match, Kolkata Knight Riders had set a challenge of 205 runs in front of Delhi Capitals. In response, Delhi Capitals could only score 190 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in the stipulated 20 overs.

In this match, Kolkata Knight Riders lost the toss and were asked to bat first. The Kolkata team had a great start, and the pair of Sunil Narine and Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 48 runs in three overs. Rahmanullah Gurbaz played an innings of 26 runs in 12 balls, including five fours and a six. Apart from this, Sunil Narine scored 27 runs in 16 balls. Captain Ajinkya Rahane played an innings of 26 runs in 14 balls.

After this, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who came to bat, played an innings of 44 runs in 32 balls with the help of three fours and two sixes. Venkatesh Iyer once again flopped and returned to the pavilion after scoring seven runs in 5 balls. But today Rinku Singh's bat worked. Rinku Singh played an innings of 36 runs in 25 balls, which included three fours and a six. Russell scored 17 runs in nine balls, and Rovman Powell scored 5 runs. For the Delhi Capitals team, Mitchell Starc took three wickets by scoring 43 runs in four overs. Apart from this, Vipraj Nigam and Axar Patel also got two wickets each. 

Delhi's batting flopped in the run chase

Delhi Capitals' team, which came out to chase the target of 205 runs, did not have a special start, and Abhishek Poral returned to the pavilion after scoring four runs on the second ball itself. Karun Nair could also score only 15 runs in 13 balls. And today, KL Rahul also got run out after scoring seven runs in five balls. But after this, Faf Duplessis and captain Axar Patel made a great partnership.

Duplessis scored 62 runs in 45 balls with the help of 7 fours and two sixes. On the other hand, Captain Axar Patel scored 43 runs in 23 balls, which included four fours and three sixes. Vipraaj Nigam tried his best to win the match by scoring 38 runs in 19 balls, but in the end, he also failed. From the Kolkata Knight Riders team, Sunil Narine took three wickets for 29 runs in four overs. Varun Chakaravarthy took two wickets for 39 runs in four overs. Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, and Russell also got one wicket each.

ALSO READ: IPL 2025: CSK vs PBKS Match 49- Who will be Impact Players for today's match?

Twitter reactions after RR wins 47th match of IPL 2025

Thanks kkr for defeating dc another successful day ✅ pic.twitter.com/RbPKet88K2

— Ritayan#17 (@huihuian69) April 29, 2025

Nacho .. unbelievable win by KKR 😍 #KKRvsKXIP pic.twitter.com/3wAniMQD1n

— Funnily Serious (@notionalvieww) October 10, 2020

#DCvsKKR
Kkr won the match

Aryan khan from jail right now:- pic.twitter.com/qkgzFh4Ulw

— Mad king (@GJhamtani) October 13, 2021

KKR wins by 14 runs against Delhi Capitals 💜😍
Wickets udaye 🏏, shots barsaaye 💥,
Knights ne field pe machaya hungama! 🔥
Delhi ko diya full stop ✋ — pic.twitter.com/Vaba6EOijB

— KnightRidersFamily_KKR (@KRFamily_2008) April 29, 2025

🗣️ "Pata Hai Delhi Match Kaha Hara??"

Me:- When The Chase Master Of Delhi KL Rahul Got Run Out 💔 #KKRvsDC pic.twitter.com/AVifDSKo7D

— تس 🐇 (@Tashere18) April 29, 2025

kkr spinchoked dc.. which means rcb table topper again🥳🥳🥳 pic.twitter.com/jcP6dTEyKG

— prans (@innahsaar) April 29, 2025

KKR ne galat Iyer pe paisa laga diya#DCvsKKR pic.twitter.com/ZZcMoC9mtE

— Comedyculture.in (@ComedycultureIn) April 29, 2025

KKR beats DC 😍
CONGRATULATIONS!! 🥰 #DCvsKKR pic.twitter.com/nh8GKc9E4e

— FOMO7Games (@FOMO7official) April 29, 2025

Match: DC vs KKR
Batting: Delhi
Fielding: KKR

*KKR does a misfield

Rayudu says: "Ms Dhoni humesha fielders ko kehte the mujhpe nazar rakhna"

Sir aap thode woh ho kya?
Idhar Dhoni kidhar se agaya? pic.twitter.com/f5RwYXKHuo

— atif.reds (@atifreds) April 29, 2025

DC collapsed so hard, they owe KKR rent for the wreckage.#DCvKKR #KKRvDC #IPL2025#DCvsKKR #TATAIPL @KKRiders @DelhiCapitals https://t.co/Me3YxS8BZB

— AmericanDreamerX (@xamerican0056) April 29, 2025

Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) secured a 14-run victory over Delhi Capitals (DC) in an exhilarating IPL 2025 Match 48 on April 29, 2025, at Arun Jaitley Stadium. At a posted trot of 204/9 from KKR, DC managed to chase 190 with all effort but ultimately fell short when the decisive bowling pressure came in from KKR. Let's check why DC lost this game.

The first reason is that DC could not defend a competitive total, which was 204/9, by way of poor bowling and no breakthroughs made at all. KKR's batsmen, led by Raghuvanshi (66), Rinku Singh, and Sunil Narine, had almost demoralized the bowling attack of Mitchell Starc (3/43) and Vipuraj Nigam (2/41) with their onslaught during the powerplay and the middle overs thanks to 44 off 32 deliveries from Angkrish Raghuvanshi and 36 off 25 balls from Rinku Singh. DC had some low contributions from its bowlers, such as Mitchell Starc (3/43) and Vipuraj Nigam (2/41). While DC had not come to chase a target of that magnitude, there were questions regarding KKR's attunement to Indian conditions in getting a score such as that. 

A perplexing fight, though, with the quick-fire abs of Axar Patel (43 off 23) and Vipuraj Nigam (38 off 19), with some fight back by turning pretty much—I feel it's only towards the end that they're not going to be able to up the ante—caused KKR's death bowling - Varun specifically (2/39) and Vaibhav Arora (1/19)—and sealed an interesting but doomed run chase.

Also Read: IPL 2025, Match 48: Delhi Capitals vs Kolkata Knight Riders Full Match Highlights

1. Inconsistent Top-Order Performance

While Faf du Plessis offered a good start with a stylish 62 off 45 balls, there was no support from the rest of Delhi's top-order batting. The early wickets and lack of solid partnerships in the powerplay put pressure on the middle order to try and repair the slow start. This inconsistency at the top hindered the momentum of the Capitals in a chase of over 200, as they found themselves in a catch-up for the rest of their innings.

2. Kolkata's Bowling Impact in Crucial Moments

KKR bowlers at key moments worked with a will for Sunil Narine (3/29) to wrest key breakthroughs. Narine broke the middle order's back while containing runs strongly in the middle. Varun Chakravarthy and Vaibhav Arora lent timely wickets and disciplined spells, all putting a wrench in Delhi's efforts to accelerate, especially from the moment the asking rate leaped sharply in the death overs.

3. Expensive Bowling Despite Wicket-Taking

Delhi bowlers Mitchell Starc and Vipraj Nigam took two very vital wickets but gave away runs at an expensive rate-Starc 43 runs and Nigam 41 runs. Those overcosting Delhi would allow KKR to put up the stiff 204/9 run target. The inability to control the scoring, especially in the death overs, meant that Delhi’s batters had a stiffer target than ideal, ultimately proving too much to overcome despite a strong fightback.