Eshan Malinga IPL 2026 campaign is turning heads as the Sunrisers Hyderabad fast bowler delivers consistent performances with his variations and pace.
The 25-year-old has emerged as a key bowler for SRH, using yorkers, reverse swing, and slower bouncers to trouble batters in crucial moments.
One of his standout performances came in Hyderabad, where he dismissed David Miller using reverse swing. He repeated a similar length delivery and managed to hit the stumps cleanly.
Malinga believes his strength lies in mixing pace with variations. He often surprises batters by switching between fast deliveries and slower balls.
His journey to IPL success has not been easy. Coming from Ratnapura, he started with tennis-ball cricket due to lack of turf wickets.
He later travelled long distances to train in Colombo and gained recognition after clocking 141 kmph in a fast bowling contest at the age of 18.
Under coach Chamila Gamage, his bowling improved significantly. He developed a strong yorker and refined his action through step-by-step bowling drills.
To improve swing, he trained with heavier balls and focused on wrist strength.
In IPL 2026, he continues to work on spot bowling, targeting specific areas to improve accuracy and control.
The year 2024 was a turning point when he represented Sri Lanka A and picked up six wickets in the Emerging Asia Cup.
Soon after, he secured an IPL contract with SRH worth ₹1.2 crore, even before making his international debut.
In 2025, he impressed with 13 wickets in seven IPL matches and later made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka.
Malinga says IPL helped him develop a strong mindset and better decision-making under pressure.
For IPL 2026, he has set clear goals — to take 20 wickets and dismiss Virat Kohli.
He is already close to achieving his wicket target, and with a match against RCB ahead, he will be looking to achieve both milestones.
