MI's 3 highest wicket-takers in IPL playoffs

After fortunes went their way, the Mumbai Indians (MI) finished the league stage in fourth place and went into the IPL 2023 playoffs with 16 points from eight games.

Following their triumph against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on Sunday, MI were helped by the Gujarat Titans (GT) ending the hopes of the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) later that night.

After ending up on fourth, the five-time champions are slated to lock horns with the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the Eliminator. It is scheduled to be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday, May 24.

It is Mumbai's first qualification for the playoffs since IPL 2020, where they went on to lift the title as well.

As Mumbai Indians gear up to face LSG in IPL 2023 Eliminator, we take a look at MI's top three wicket-takers in IPL playoffs history.

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#3 Jasprit Bumrah - 11 wickets in 8 games

Jasprit Bumrah is hugely missed by MI this season [IPLT20]

MI have done really well to end up in the playoffs despite their star pacer Jasprit Bumrah being unavailable for the season.

One of the world-beating players unearthed by the franchise, Bumrah is probably the best T20 bowler around the globe when fit. An all-phase bowler, who is one of the most difficult pacers to negotiate with, Bumrah is being hugely missed by MI this season.

He was ruled out of the ongoing competition earlier this year, leaving a huge void in MI's bowling department.

Having played 120 IPL games in his career so far, Bumrah has picked up 145 wickets at a brilliant economy rate of 7.4.

Out of his 145 scalps, 11 have come in IPL playoffs. He has played eight knockout fixtures for the franchise and has averaged a decent 17.54 with the ball. The right-arm seamer also has an economy rate of under seven runs per over.

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#2 Lasith Malinga - 14 wickets in 14 games

Lasith Malinga after making MI win the IPL 2019 Final vs CSK [IPLT20]

From apprentice to his master, Lasith Malinga has been synonymous with the Mumbai franchise. The Sri Lankan legend served MI for 11 straight years (from 2009 to 2019) and won four titles during his career with them.

Probably the best IPL pacer of all time, Malinga scalped 170 wickets across 122 IPL games for MI and conceded runs at a phenomenal economy rate of just 7.14.

During his career for MI, Malinga also played 14 IPL playoff games for the franchise, where he took 14 wickets at an economy rate of 7.43. He is the joint-highest wicket-taker for MI in IPL playoffs.

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#1 Harbhajan Singh - 14 wickets in 10 games

Harbhajan Singh lifting an IPL trophy with MI [IPLT20]

Veteran off-spinner Harbhajan Singh was an integral part of the Mumbai Indians during his playing days. The 'Turbanator' played 10 of his 14 years of IPL cricket with MI and took 127 wickets across 134 innings at a strike rate of below 22 for the franchise.

As far as IPL play-offs are concerned, Harbhajan played 10 matches for MI and took the joint-most wickets alongside Malinga. Harbhajan bowled 34 overs in IPL playoffs for MI and took 14 scalps at an economy rate of 8.1 and at an average of 20.00.

Although the former MI captain hung up his boots from all forms of cricket in late 2021, Harbhajan still remains the best-ever spinner to play for the Mumbai-based franchise.