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.

Ishant Sharma IPL Journey: 96 Wickets, One Five-for, and 15 Seasons of Pace Mastery Veteran seamer Ishant Sharma has become one of the Indian Premier League’s most enduring pace forces, spanning 15 seasons from the inaugural 2008 edition to the 2025 campaign with Gujarat Titans. Across 117 bowling innings the 6' 4" bowler has sent down 2 419 balls—roughly 403 overs—and conceded 3 377 runs to claim 96 wickets. His strike-rate of 25.20 balls per wicket underlines a knack for breaking partnerships, while three three-wicket hauls and one five-wicket burst showcase his match-turning ability on the biggest stage. Having debuted with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2008, Ishant’s journey reads like a tour of the league itself: KKR (2008-2010), Sunrisers Hyderabad (2011-2015), Rising Pune Supergiants (2016), Punjab Kings (2017) and seven seasons with Delhi Capitals (2019-2024) before landing at Gujarat Titans for the 2025 season. That 2025 move makes him one of the few players to feature for six different IPL franchises, a testament to his adaptability and enduring value. With the bat, Ishant’s role has always been support—57 runs in 21 innings tells its own story—but his two sixes and four boundaries provide flashes of lower-order fireworks. Yet it is with the ball that the lanky quick has truly delivered, striking every 25th ball and maintaining an economy of 8.38 across diverse conditions and grounds. Whether steaming in for Delhi at the Feroz Shah Kotla or operating with the new ball for Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, Ishant’s height, bounce and subtle variations have kept top-order batters guessing for over a decade and a half.

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