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.

James Faulkner IPL Profile: 59 wickets, 5-wicket hauls and match-winning spells for Royals & Titans Australian all-rounder James Faulkner lit up the IPL between 2011 and 2017, emerging as one of the league’s most reliable death-over specialists. Across 60 bowling innings he claimed 59 wickets at a strike-rate of 20.8 balls per scalp and twice ripped through line-ups to claim five-fors, including four separate three-wicket bursts. Operating at an economy of 8.69 despite bowling predominantly at the death, Faulkner’s mix of cutters and yorkers made him the go-to finisher for Rajasthan Royals (2013-15) and later Gujarat Titans (2016-17). With the bat Faulkner was a genuine lower-order threat. In 45 innings he smashed 527 runs at a striking 135, clearing the ropes 23 times and finding 36 fours. His highest score of 46 came in a whirlwind knock that showcased his ability to turn games inside a handful of deliveries. From debuting with Pune Warriors in 2011 to his final stint with the Titans in 2017, Faulkner’s seven-season IPL journey was defined by clutch performances: two five-wicket hauls, four three-wicket bursts and countless tight overs when 12 runs an over looked inevitable.

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