Friends and neighbours but fierce competitors on the cricket field. This sums up the India-Sri Lanka contests in international cricket. The Asian giants, who have six white-ball World Cups between them, get ready to script another chapter in the fascinating duel with a three-match T20I and ODI series starting on Saturday (July 26). 

Mumbai Indians has been home to legendary players across the sea. As we gear up for another battle between the two nations, here is a look at the players from the island nation who have been part of the Blue and Gold riband.

1. Sanath Jayasuriya

Years at MI: 2008, 2009, 2010

Matches: 30

Runs: 768

Highest Score: 114*

Strike Rate: 144

Wickets: 13

Mercurial, destructive, match-winner—Sanath Jayasuriya’s portfolio in international cricket encompassed these attributes, and it was a no-brainer that Mumbai Indians went all-out to win his signature at the 2008 IPL auctions. The 1996 World Cup winner had a sterling campaign in IPL 2008, finishing third in the Orange Cap race with 518 runs from 14 matches. His unbeaten 48-ball 114 against Chennai Super Kings was one for the ages as he rolled back the years with his power-hitting.

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2. Dilhara Fernando

Years at MI: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

Matches: 10

Wickets: 17

Best Figures: 4/18

Dilhara Fernando is one of Sri Lanka’s top fast bowlers, with over 300 international wickets across formats. The pacer entered the MI fold after his performances in the 2007 T20 World Cup, where he finished as Sri Lanka’s second-highest wicket-taker.

Fernando had a successful first year in the IPL, picking up 10 wickets from five matches. His 4/18 against Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he ripped through the top order with his sheer pace, is his best bowling performance in an MI jersey. In 2010, he played five matches for MI, picking up seven wickets.

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3. Lasith Malinga

Years at MI: 2008-2017, 2019-2020

Matches: 139

Wickets: 195

Best Figures: 5/13

With two runs needed to win off the last ball of an IPL final, who would you bet on to restrict the opponent with the ball? Of course, Lasith Malinga. The pacer has given many memorable moments to the Paltan holding his own in crunch situations.

546 international wickets, 195 wickets (IPL and CLT20), the first to 100 T20I wickets and the first to take four wickets in four balls twice in international cricket (2007 - ODIs, 2019 - T20Is), Malinga joined Mumbai Indians after his successful T20 World Cup 2007 stint. In his two stints from 2008 (2008-2017 and 2019-20), the Yorker King played a pivotal role in MI winning four IPL titles.

Our current Bowling Coach’s last-over exploits against Chennai Super Kings in IPL 2019, when he defended nine runs including a last-ball wicket, will be remembered by fans for a long time.

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4. Thisara Perera

Years at MI: 2012

Matches: 3

Runs: 6

Wickets: 1

A bowling all-rounder, Thisara Perera has more than 200 international wickets to his name and can also hit some lusty blows lower down the order. We signed Perera after his starry cameo in the 2011 World Cup, where he registered a nine-ball 22 cameo against India in the final.

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5. Asela Gunaratne

Years at MI: 2017

Matches: did not play

The all-rounder came into the Mumbai Indians side after stellar performances in the ODI series in South Africa, including a century and the T20 series in Australia, where he was the Player of the Tournament, scoring two fifties in three matches.

Unfortunately, Gunaratne was injured before the start of the season and had to pull out of IPL 2017.

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6. Akila Dananjaya

Years at MI: 2018

Matches: 1

Wickets: 0

Akila Dananjaya impressed with his mystery spin as a net bowler before making the Sri Lanka squad for the 2012 T20 World Cup. His performance against India in the 2017 series, including a six-wicket haul in the second ODI, got him a ticket to the IPL with the Mumbai Indians.

Dananjaya turned up for MI in a solitary game in IPL 2018 but could not get any wickets from that match.

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7. Dilshan Madushanka

Years at MI: 2024

Matches: 0

Dilshan Madushanka caused a stir among cricket followers with his extraordinary performance in the 2023 ODI World Cup. The left-arm pacer was Sri Lanka’s highest wicket-taker with 21 wickets from nine matches, his five-wicket haul against India the cherry on the cake, a moment that made the entire nation proud.

Taking note of his performances at the showpiece event, Mumbai Indians snapped him up in the IPL 2024 player auction. He, however, missed the entire IPL 2024 season with an injury.

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8. Nuwan Thushara 

Years at MI: 2024

Matches: 7

Wickets: 8

There is something about Sri Lanka and bowlers with a slinky action. Nuwan Thushara is the latest on the list and is making waves. He made his IPL debut in 2024 after a breathtaking spell of 5/20 against Bangladesh that included a hat trick, showcasing the potential and hope for the future.

At MI, Thushara bloomed under the watchful eyes of his master, Lasith Malinga, in his first season. He made his IPL debut against Rajasthan Royals and was wicketless in his first two matches, but turned the campaign around in style, picking up eight wickets in his next five matches. He ended IPL 2024 with a best of 3/28 against Lucknow Super Giants.