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.

Imran Tahir IPL bowling story: 82 wickets in 59 IPL innings, strike-rate 16.05 balls per scalp, economy 7.76 across eight seasons. The South African leg-spinner made each of his 1316 deliveries count, conceding only 1703 runs and turning games with 12 three-wicket hauls and a best of 4-for. From Delhi Capitals’ ranks in 2014-2016 to the Rising Pune Supergiant squad in 2017 and finally the Chennai Super Kings dynasty from 2018-2021, Tahir has been a constant threat. While his batting was limited—33 runs off 37 balls with five boundaries—his real value lay in his ability to break partnerships and defend totals. CSK fans will remember his trademark celebratory sprints every time the ball spun past the bat to crash into the stumps, a sight that captured the essence of Tahir’s impact in the Indian Premier League.

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