Indian Premier League, commonly known as IPL, is an Indian T20 cricket tournament usually held between March and May of every year and has an exclusive window in the ICC Future Tours Programme. Cricketers from several countries play in IPL. It not only attracts players but also audiences from all over the world. IPL is the most-attended cricket league globally. It was ranked 6th by average attendance among all sports leagues in 2014. Through this article, we will focus on 10 Sri Lankan Cricketers who have participated in the IPL.

1. Lasith Malinga

Lasith Malinga, a former Sri Lankan cricketer, made his debut in IPL in 2008 and is one of the best Sri Lankan players in the history of IPL. The right-arm pacer and former Purple Cap winner has played for Mumbai Indians throughout his IPL career. In 122 matches, Malinga has taken 170 wickets over the years.

2. Kumar Sangakkara

Kumar Sangakkara, the current coach of Rajasthan Royals, was one of the poster boys of the first season of the Indian Premier League. He played for Kings XI Punjab for three seasons and then signed up with Deccan Chargers in 2011. In 2013, he led the team of Sunrisers Hyderabad. Sangakkara has played 71 matches in IPL and has scored 1678 runs at an average of 25.95.

3. Muttiah Muralitharan

Legendary off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan first played in IPL in 2008. He was with Chennai Super Kings for three seasons before playing for Kochi Tuskers Kerala in 2011. He then played for RCB for the next three seasons. In 2009 he took 14 wickets in 13 matches and 15 wickets in 12 games in the 2010 edition. Overall, He has taken 63 wickets in 66 games.

4. Mahela Jayawardene

Mahela Jayawardene, one of the greatest Sri Lankan players in IPL, has played over 80 matches in the IPL. He has scored 1802 runs and has ten half-centuries and one century to his name in IPL. He played for Kings XI Punjab for three seasons and then for Kochi Tuskers Kerala and Delhi Daredevils. Mahela is nowadays the trainer of the five-time Mumbai Indians team.

5. Tillakaratne Dilshan

Tillakaratne Dilshan has played six editions of IPL, three years for Delhi Daredevils and three for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2008 to 2013. He is considered one of the best players of Sri Lanka in IPL with his precise off-spin and active fielding. Dilshan has achieved 1153 runs in 52 matches.

6. Angelo Mathews

Sri Lanka’s former captain Angelo Mathews first played in IPL in 2009. He has played for three franchises in seven editions of IPL, Kolkata Knight Riders, Pune Warriors India, and Delhi Daredevils. He made 724 runs in 49 matches.

7. Chaminda Vaas

Chaminda Vaas, the incredible fast Sri Lankan bowler, played for Deccan Chargers in three seasons of IPL from 2008 to 2010. He has taken 18 wickets in 13 matches he played in the IPL.

8. Thisara Perera

Thisara Perera, a bowling all-rounder, has played for six teams in IPL, namely Chennai Super Kings, Kochi Tuskers Kerala, Mumbai Indians, SunRisers Hyderabad, Kings XI Punjab, and Rising Pune Supergiants. He took 19 wickets in 16 matches in 2013. Overall, he has taken 22 wickets in 26 games.

9. Sanath Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya, a Sri Lankan all-rounder, played in three editions of IPL for Mumbai Indians from 2008 to 2010. He scored 514 runs in 14 matches in 2008. He has scored 768 runs in 31 games in IPL.

10. Nuwan Kulasekara

Nuwan Kulasekara, a former Sri Lankan cricketer, played for Chennai Super Kings for three seasons. He lifted the IPL trophy in his first season with CSK in IPL 2011. The right-arm medium pacer got only one match to play in 2011. He played six games in those three seasons and took five wickets.