Lasith Malinga is the IPL’s ultimate yorker king. Across nine seasons—all in Mumbai Indians colours from 2009 to 2019—he scalped 170 wickets in 122 innings, never letting batters breathe at a stunning strike-rate of 16.63 balls per wicket. The sling-armed Sri Lankan terrorised line-ups with 18 three-wicket bursts and a memorable five-for, conceding only 7.15 runs an over despite bowling 2,827 balls of unforgiving yorkers and slower ones at the death. Malinga’s mastery peaked when he nipped out four overs for just 5.1 runs each, a record economy for any 170-wicket bowler in the league’s history. With the bat he was a handy lower-order pinch-hitter, smashing five sixes and six fours in 20 innings for 88 quick runs at a strike-rate of 88. Yet it is with the ball that Malinga became Mumbai’s heartbeat, lifting four IPL titles and finishing as the franchise’s all-time leading wicket-taker—an unbreakable legacy built on 170 scalps, 18 three-fors and one spell for the ages.

Azhar Mahmood, the seasoned Pakistan all-rounder, lit up three IPL seasons between 2012 and 2015 for Kings XI Punjab and Kolkata Knight Riders, delivering exactly the kind of late-order fireworks and disciplined seam that wins tight matches. Batting at a strike-rate of 128, Mahmood hammered 388 runs off 303 balls, including 39 fours and 13 sixes. His two half-centuries peaked at an 80-run blitzkrieg that showcased his ability to clear the rope when it mattered most. Yet it is with the ball that Mahmood truly tilted games. Across 23 bowling innings he snapped 29 wickets at a brisk strike-rate of 18.52 balls per scalp and kept pressure on with an economy of 7.82. Four three-wicket bursts underline his knack for breaking partnerships, even if a five-for eluded him. In 537 deliveries he conceded only 700 runs, numbers that reflect both control and penetration on Indian pitches. From 2012 to 2015, whether in Punjab red or KKR purple, Azhar Mahmood offered captains the rare luxury of a proven finisher who could also close an innings with the ball—exactly the dual threat modern T20 franchises crave.

Note: This overview is partially generated using AI and is based on statistical data. Please verify with official sources for complete accuracy.