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.

Kane Richardson IPL profile: the Australian quick made his mark as a genuine wicket-taking option across four seasons from 2013 to 2021. Turning out for Pune Warriors, Rajasthan Royals and twice for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Richardson sent down 335 balls of high-octane pace and walked away with 19 scalps at a strike rate of 17.63 – meaning he struck almost every three overs. His standout spell arrived at the death, highlighted by one blistering three-wicket haul that tilted games RCB’s way. While runs sometimes leaked at 8.45 an over, the upside of regular breakthroughs kept him in demand. With the bat he was a handy lower-order striker, smashing 36 runs in 39 balls including two fours and a towering six; his 26 off 18 against Sunrisers in 2016 remains his highest IPL score. Richardson’s T20 blueprint is clear: bowl fearless, hunt wickets, and provide sporadic late-order fireworks.

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