Slinga Malinga. Yorker King. Rathgama Express. LEGEND

There are 99 reasons - just like his jersey number - to celebrate another year of the Sri Lankan icon being around us, but there is one that makes it unique this time around - Lasith Malinga turns 40 on the 28th of August 2023.

“Takes the ball in his hand, kisses the ball, begins his menacing run-up, his feet come slowly off the ground, a round-arm action and the ball swings in as a toe-crushing yorker” - is THE bowling action that not only defied conventional bowling techniques but distinctively made Slinga one of the eternal grandmasters of bowling in international cricket.

His storied folklore also includes his escapades in the Tata IPL, where he reigns as MI’s highest wicket-taker (170 IPL wickets) and a four-time champion (2013, 2015, 2017, 2019).

Let’s rewind the clock and relive five of Malinga’s memorable spells in the iconic Blue and Gold, shall we?

2011: 5/13 vs Delhi Daredevils

In his Purple Cap-winning season, Lasith Malinga gave the Paltan one of the best bowling displays to remember, with the only five-wicket haul of his IPL career. DD batted first, but it was a nightmare in waiting for them as Slinga claimed the wickets of David Warner and Unmukt Chand within his first four balls. In his spell of 3.4 overs, four of his five victims (Warner, Unmukt, Venugopal Rao, Morne Morkel) were clean bowled.

2012: 4/16 vs Deccan Chargers

Malinga was the chief tormentor for the now-defunct Deccan Chargers, as he disintegrated their batting line-up with his four-wicket haul and helped Mumbai reduce them to just 100. None of his victims scored more than four runs that night as Slinga once again proved no batter can EVER avoid his deceptive slow balls.

2013: 2/22 vs Chennai Super Kings

MI vs CSK, the El Clasico of the IPL, the IPL final, and then there is this. Chennai Super Kings were given a target of 149. Lasith Malinga opens the bowling. Ball 1: One run.

Ball 2: Dot

Ball 3: One run

Ball 4: WICKET - Michael Hussey clean-bowled for 1

Ball 5: WICKET - Golden duck for Suresh Raina, caught by Dwayne Smith

Ball 6: Dot

No one could have asked for a better start to defending a score in a championship game. Malinga would end the night with figures of 2/22 and his first champion medal after laying the foundations for a 23-run victory.

2017: 2/5 vs Delhi Daredevils

In a fixture where Mumbai Indians registered the largest margin of victory by runs (146) in the IPL, Slinga ensured he played a positive cameo in style. The pacer bowled two overs, which yielded two wickets - Shreyas Iyer and Corey Anderson - at just five runs. Economical. Impactful.

2019: 1/49 vs Chennai Super Kings

And, saving the best for the last, Lasith Malinga gave a movie scene-like display of how one should sign off their last game on a high. After conceding 42 runs in his first three overs, the experienced was given the ball to defend nine runs off the last six balls of his IPL career. His figures in THAT 20th over were 1, 1, 2, 1W, 2, W, including a slow, foxing, bang-on-target final delivery to trap Shardul Thakur for an LBW.

Countless performances and countless memories, but just one Lasith Malinga and his broad smile that made him a generational icon in our One Family Forever. Here’s wishing Slinga a very, very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!