Lasith Malinga
- Date of Birth 1983-8-28
- Role bowler
- Batting Style right-hand bat
- Bowling Style right-arm fast
Debut Matches
| Format | Match | Date |
|---|---|---|
| TEST | AUS vs SL | 2004-07-01 |
| ODI | SL vs UAE | 2004-07-17 |
| T20 | SL vs ENG | 2006-06-15 |
| vs | 1970-01-01 |
Recent Performances
Batting Statistics
Matches
30
Innings
37
Runs
275
Average
11.45
Strike Rate
44.42
Highest Score
64
100s
0
50s
1
Fours
36
Sixes
6
Catches
7
Bowling Statistics
Matches
30
Innings
59
Wickets
101
Average
33.15
Economy
3.85
Strike Rate
51.5
Best Figure
5/50
4 Wickets
7
5 Wickets
3
Balls Bowled
5209
Runs Conceded
3349
Batting Statistics
Matches
226
Innings
119
Runs
567
Average
6.83
Strike Rate
74.5
Highest Score
56
100s
0
50s
1
Fours
45
Sixes
21
Catches
31
Bowling Statistics
Matches
226
Innings
220
Wickets
338
Average
28.87
Economy
5.35
Strike Rate
32.3
Best Figure
6/38
4 Wickets
11
5 Wickets
8
Balls Bowled
10936
Runs Conceded
9760
Batting Statistics
Matches
84
Innings
33
Runs
136
Average
6.47
Strike Rate
84.47
Highest Score
27
100s
0
50s
0
Fours
9
Sixes
5
Catches
21
Bowling Statistics
Matches
84
Innings
83
Wickets
107
Average
20.79
Economy
7.42
Strike Rate
16.8
Best Figure
5/6
4 Wickets
1
5 Wickets
2
Balls Bowled
1799
Runs Conceded
2225
Batting Statistics
Matches
291
Innings
154
Runs
740
Average
6.72
Strike Rate
Highest Score
56
100s
0
50s
1
Fours
Sixes
Catches
40
Bowling Statistics
Matches
291
Innings
Wickets
446
Average
27.49
Economy
5.28
Strike Rate
31.2
Best Figure
7/49
4 Wickets
15
5 Wickets
10
Balls Bowled
13916
Runs Conceded
12264
Batting Statistics
Matches
295
Innings
92
Runs
426
Average
8.03
Strike Rate
102.89
Highest Score
37*
100s
0
50s
0
Fours
31
Sixes
21
Catches
54
Bowling Statistics
Matches
295
Innings
289
Wickets
390
Average
19.68
Economy
7.07
Strike Rate
16.6
Best Figure
6/7
4 Wickets
10
5 Wickets
5
Balls Bowled
6508
Runs Conceded
7679
One of the greatest of all white-ball bowlers in his pomp, Lasith Malinga gained a reputation for searing inswinging yorkers emerging from a round-arm action that was as destructive as it was distinctive. That yorker, a deceptive slower ball, and an excellent bouncer formed the body of Malinga's menace, and the action made his deliveries hard to pick; even when batters knew what was coming, they often couldn't stop it.
Spotted as a teenager on the beaches of Rathgama, near Galle, Malinga came up under the guidance of Champaka Ramanayake, among others, who famously had him bowl at a pair of shoes placed by the popping crease, honing the yorker that would define his career.
After debuting on the 2004 tour of Australia, where he took 6 for 90 in a tour game, he had an impressive tour of New Zealand the following year. At one point, his low-slung action resulted in the New Zealand batters asking the umpire to change the colour of their trousers as they were losing sight of the ball. He went on to be only the third bowler to get to the 100-wicket mark for Sri Lanka, but Malinga's true calling was the white-ball formats, where his unique action and tactical acumen flourished.
He is perhaps best remembered for the World Cup ODI in which he became the first - and still only - bowler to take four wickets in four balls, almost pulling off a miraculous win over South Africa. More hat-tricks followed - against Kenya and Australia - cementing his status as Sri Lanka's spearhead in limited-overs cricket, and he was arguably the single-most important player in Sri Lanka's excellent run in global tournaments from 2007 through 2014. In the last of those years, his incisive spell in the final of the T20 World Cup sealed their title win against India.
Injuries, especially chronic knee and ankle problems, increasingly affected the second half of his career and he retired from Tests in 2011 to prolong his white-ball journey, a decision that caused friction at home but allowed him to extend his influence across formats and continents. As the talisman of Mumbai Indians in the IPL he finished as the all-time leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 170 wickets from his nine seasons, and turned out in four out of six editions of the Champions League Twenty20. He also delivered perhaps the league's most dramatic finish - a last-ball yorker to win the 2019 final.
Even as Malinga's pace waned, his nous did not, and he remained a force in international T20s into his mid-thirties, taking four wickets in four balls again against New Zealand in 2019, and ending his T20I career as Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker. In the leagues, he turned out in the CPL, BBL and BPL, among others.
After retirement, he extended his long-running association with Mumbai Indians, becoming their bowling coach in 2024.