Lasith Malinga, known as ‘Slinga Malinga,’ celebrates his 43rd birthday. He remains the only bowler in ODI history to claim three hat-tricks. He is also the only bowler with two World Cup hat-tricks.
His most astonishing feat is taking four wickets in four consecutive balls twice in international cricket. He did it first against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup. He repeated it against New Zealand in a T20 International in 2019. He was also the first bowler to take 100 wickets in T20 Internationals. He is also the first bowler to take 100 wickets across all three formats of international cricket.
Beyond international cricket, Malinga was a cornerstone of the Mumbai Indians franchise in the IPL. He is the highest wicket-taker for the franchise. He took 170 wickets from 122 matches at an impressive economy rate.
His international career for Sri Lanka spanned from 2004 to 2020. He captained the team to the ICC T20 World Cup title in 2014. Malinga retired from all forms of cricket on September 14, 2021. But his legacy continues to inspire a new generation of fast bowlers. He has earned his place as one of the greatest limited-overs bowlers of all time.
Lasith Malinga Turns 42: A Look at His Memorable Career
How a Village Boy Became a Cricket Legend
Lasith Malinga grew up in Rathgama, a small coastal village about 12 kilometers from Galle in Sri Lanka. His father, Separamadu Milton, was a bus mechanic who worked at the Galle depot. Malinga spent much of his childhood playing cricket with friends on the sand banks and coconut groves near a river in his village.
He attended three different schools. He started at Mahinda College in Galle, then moved to Vidyaloka College, also in Galle, and later studied at Maha Vidyalaya in Thiranagama, a school close to his village. He entered Vidyaloka College after passing the grade 5 Scholarship Examination in 1993. It was there that he began his cricket career.
His talent was discovered by former Sri Lankan fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake. Champaka was impressed by Malinga’s raw ability and invited him to join the Galle Cricket Club. He also helped Malinga join the first XI cricket team at Mahinda College, which became a turning point in his career.
He did not start playing hard-ball cricket until his teenage years. But his talent was soon recognised by coaches Champaka Ramanayake and Anusha Samaranayake. They brought him into the domestic system and nurtured him during his early years.
In his first hard-ball game, an inter-village match in Rathgama, he dismissed a batsman and had the off stump flying. It was his first leather-ball wicket. His teammates gave him the nickname “daakaththa,” which means “the sickle.”
He is a Buddhist and married Tanya Perera in 2010. His early life was simple, but his talent and determination set him on the path to becoming one of cricket’s greatest bowlers.
Iconic Moments and Unbreakable Records
Lasith Malinga is the only bowler in ODI history to take three hat-tricks. He is also the only bowler to take two hat-tricks in World Cups. His most famous achievement is taking four wickets in four balls twice. He did it against South Africa in the 2007 World Cup and again against New Zealand in a T20I in 2019. He was the first bowler to take 100 wickets in T20Is and also the first to take 100 wickets across all three formats.
Malinga was a World Cup specialist. He played in four World Cups and took over 10 wickets in each edition. He is third on the list of highest wicket-takers in World Cup history with 56 wickets. His spell of 4 for 54 against South Africa in 2007 is one of the greatest moments in cricket history.
He is a legend for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He took 170 wickets in 122 matches and helped the team during their four title wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2019. He defended runs in the final over of the 2019 IPL final to seal the trophy.
He also captained Sri Lanka to their first T20 World Cup win in 2014. He finished his T20 career with 390 wickets, the fourth-highest of all time. After retiring, he worked as a bowling coach and mentor. He went back to the Mumbai Indians in 2024 to help train their bowlers.
FAQs
Q. When was Lasith Malinga born?
A. Lasith Malinga was born on August 28, 1983.
Q. How many ODI hat-tricks has Malinga taken?
A. Malinga has taken three ODI hat-tricks.
Q. When did Malinga take four wickets in four balls?
A. Malinga achieved it against South Africa and New Zealand.
Q. How many T20I wickets did Malinga take?
A. Malinga took 107 wickets in 84 T20Is.
Q. When did Lasith Malinga retire from cricket?
A. Malinga retired from all cricket on September 14, 2021.
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