Picture Credit: Twitter
Lasith Malinga, who last played a T20 match in March 2020 announced that he would be retiring from all forms of cricket today. Post WC 2019, Malinga played a farewell ODI series against Bangladesh. However, he showed interest to play T20Is only as he wanted to lead his side for one last time in the 2020 T20 WC but COVID-19 had other plans. Let us have a look at some of Malinga's career stats and facts who has served his nation for more than 15 years in international cricket
1. Legend in T20s
Currently, Lasith Malinga is the leading wicket-taker in both T20Is and in the IPL with 107 and 170 wickets to his name respectively. Also, he remains to be the only player to have taken 2 hat-tricks in T20Is. He also holds the record for taking 4 wickets in 4 balls during a T20I match against New Zealand in 2019.
Most wickets in T20Is:
Lasith Malinga - 107
Shakib Al Hasan - 106
Tim Southee - 99
Most wickets in IPL:
Lasith Malinga - 170
Amit Mishra - 166
Piyush Chawla - 156
Players to take 4 wickets in 4 balls in T20s:
Rashid Khan vs Ire, 2019
Lasith Malinga vs NZ, 2019
2. Only Player to take two hat-tricks in ODI World Cup:
Lasith Malinga remains to be the only player to take two hat-tricks in ODI WC. Those two hat-tricks came against South Africa in 2007 & Kenya in 2011. Also, he remains to be the only bowler to have taken 3 hat-tricks in ODIs. He also took 4 wickets in 4 balls against SA in WC 2007.
3. Won WT20 2014 as Skipper:
Lasith Malinga took over the captaincy from Dinesh Chandimal at the halfway stage of 2014 WT20 tournament. He led his side to maiden WT20 title after two heart breaking final losses in WT20 2009 & WT20 2012.
4. Has been involved in highest 9th wicket partnership in ODIs :
While chasing 240 runs against Australia in 2010, Sri Lanka, at one stage were reduced to 107/8 but Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga were involved in a 132 run partnership for 9th wicket and won the game for SL surprisingly.
Highest 9th wicket partnership in ODIs:
Angelo Mathews & Lasith Malinga - 132 vs Aus, 2010
Kapil Dev & Syed Kirmani - 126* vs Zim, 1983
Irfan Pathan & Jai Prakash Yadav - 118 vs NZ, 2005
5. Leading wicket-taker in ODI World Cup & T20 World Cup:
Lasith Malinga has picked 56 wickets in WC and 38 wickets in T20 WC.
Most wickets in ODI WC:
Glenn McGrath (1996-2007): 71
Muttiah Muralitharan (1996-2011): 68
Lasith Malinga (2007-2019): 56
Most wickets in T20 WC:
Shahid Afridi (2007-2016): 39
Lasith Malinga (2007-2014): 38
Saeed Ajmal (2009-2014):3 6
6. Holds the best bowling figure in T20Is as a captain :
Lasith Malinga registered bowling figures of 5/6 vs NZ in 2019 and that remains to be best for a captain in T20Is. Malinga in this game took 4 wickets from 4 consecutive deliveries.
7. Took more than 100 wickets in ODIs through bowled dismissal alone.
Malinga, who is known for bowling toe crushing yorkers, took 104 wickets in ODIs through bowled dismissal alone.
Most wickets in ODIs through 'bowled' dismissal :
Wasim Akram - 176
Waqar Younis - 151
Muthiah Muralitharan - 122
Shahid Afridi - 104
Lasith Malinga - 104
Most wickets in international cricket through 'bowled' dismissal among pace bowlers :
Wasim Akram - 278
Waqar Younis - 253
James Anderson - 186
Lasith Malinga - 171
Kapil Dev - 167