5 Highest Wicket Takers In CPL History

Dwayne Bravo (x)Dwayne Bravo (x)

The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) has proven itself to be most one of the most successful and competitive T20 leagues in the world. In a competition glittered with some of the biggest T20 batting superstars, the role of a bowler has often been sidelined amidst the glaring blitz of elegant sixes and big totals. Here at OneCricket, we take a look at five of the most successful bowlers in CPL history, in terms of number of wickets taken in the tournament.

5. Sheldon Cottrell - 87 wickets

Sheldon Cottrell - 87 wickets (x)Sheldon Cottrell - 87 wickets (x)

West Indies fast bowler Sheldon Cottrell has bagged 87 wickets from 76 CPL matches for two different franchises, the now-defunct Antigua Hawksbills as well as the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. The speedster has so far maintained an economy rate of just 7.71 and he holds a bowling average of 22.85. 

He played a key role in St Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ triumphant CPL campaign back in 2021, and claimed a ‘Player of the Match’ award in his team’s crucial win over Barbados Royals earlier in the tournament.

4. Imran Tahir - 91 wickets

Imran Tahir - 91 wickets (x)Imran Tahir - 91 wickets (x)

Guyana Amazon Warriors zealot Imran Tahir has seized 91 CPL wickets from just 67 matches ever since he made his tournament debut back in 2018. The South African enigma machine holds a bowling average of 17.36, which marks the best among all CPL bowlers with more than 50 wickets to their names. 

Tahir’s economy of 6.25 is also the third best among players with 50 or more CPL wickets, finding himself only behind Sunil Narine and Imad Wasim. On average, he strikes once every 16.65 deliveries and has gone on to become one of the most lethal spin options at CPL venues.

3. Rayad Emrit - 96 wickets

Rayad Emrit - 96 wickets (x)Rayad Emrit - 96 wickets (x)

Rayad Emrit snared 96 wickets during his CPL playing days between 2013 and 2020. Having played 85 matches for teams like Barbados Tridents, Guyana Amazon Warriors and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots; the speedster clipped his wickets at an average of 22.75 and maintained an economy rate of 7.64. He was part of a CPL winning team for the Tridents (now Royals) back in 2014, and contributed to their triumphant cause by collecting 12 wickets from 10 games.

2. Sunil Narine - 111 wickets

Sunil Narine - 111 wickets (x)Sunil Narine - 111 wickets (x)

Perennial T20 legend Sunil Narine is the only spin bowler in CPL history to have harvested more than 100 wickets. The off-spinner has scalped 111 wickets so far from just 106 matches at an average of 19.87. His economy rate of just 5.39 remains the best-ever in CPL history among all bowlers holding more than 50 wickets to their names. Being a part of a CPL winning side on three occasions, all for the Trinbago Knight Riders, Sunil Narine has also proven himself to be quintessential team player.

1. Dwayne Bravo - 128 wickets

Dwayne Bravo - 128 wickets (x)Dwayne Bravo - 128 wickets (x)

One of T20 cricket’s most-capped player, legendary West Indies all-rounder Dwayne Bravo has collected 630 wickets to date and is leading the all-time wicket-taking charts in the game’s truncated format. Remarkably, Bravo has picked up 128 of those wickets within the hallowed arenas of CPL. The league’s most successful bowler of all time, the seasoned West Indies pacer has maintained a bowling average of 22.40 and has a strike-rate of 15.45. Bravo has recorded three four-wicket hauls so far, and has an additional five-fer to his name.