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.

Mohit Sharma has been one of the IPL’s canniest pace operators for over a decade, and the numbers behind his 134-wicket haul tell a tale of sustained mastery. Operating in 119 bowling innings across 11 seasons, the Haryana seamer has attacked the stumps at a rapid strike-rate of 17.93 balls per wicket, while keeping a tight leash on batters with an economy of 8.77. His standout show includes 15 three-wicket bursts and one five-for, the best being a 5-wicket demolition job that underlined his knack for breaking partnerships at will. From his breakout year with Chennai Super Kings in 2013 to his recent return to Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025, Mohit’s journey maps the evolution of a bowler who adapts and endures. After CSK, he spun his web for Kings XI Punjab, returned to CSK, then donned the Delhi jersey in 2020 before a two-season revival at Gujarat Titans in 2023-24. Each shift brought new challenges; each challenge saw him refine the back-of-the-length cutters and knuckle balls that once made him MS Dhoni’s go-to Powerplay enforcer. With 2,403 balls and 3,513 runs conceded, his ledger shows both volume and value, proving that containment and strike power can indeed coexist. While his batting remains a cameo option—125 runs at a strike-rate of 91—his primary currency is wickets, and he’s spent 11 seasons cashing in. As IPL 2025 dawns in Delhi colours once again, expect Mohit Sharma to keep the middle overs quiet and the scoreboard moving in the only way he knows: one wicket at a time.

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