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.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera lit up six IPL seasons (2010-2016) with explosive left-handed hitting and canny seam bowling, making him one of the league’s most valuable finishers of the era. Over 30 innings with Rising Pune Supergiants, Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Punjab Kings and Kochi Tuskers Kerala, he slammed 422 runs at a strike-rate of 137, clearing the ropes 26 times and finding 23 fours, often turning matches in the death overs. His highest score of 40 came at better than a-run-a-ball, underlining his reputation as a six-hitting specialist. Perera’s value doubled with the ball. In 36 bowling innings he picked up 31 wickets, including three three-wicket hauls, and kept batsmen guessing at an economy of 8.73. A best return of 3 for and a strike-rate of 22.5 balls per wicket showcased his knack for breaking partnerships when captains needed it most. From powering Supergiants in 2016 to lifting Mumbai Indians in 2012, Thisara Perera’s all-round fireworks remain etched in IPL folklore.

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