Sri Lankan fast bowler Eshan Malinga made his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad against Punjab Kings on April 12 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium. He claimed his first IPL wicket in the first over, dismissing Simran Singh.
Eshan’s last name often sparks speculation about a possible connection to legendary Sri Lankan pacer Lasith Malinga. Born on February 4, 2001, in Ratanpura, Eshan’s full name is Kiribathgala Kankanamalage Eshan Malinga Dharmasena.
Career Highlights
Eshan made his first-class debut in 2022-23 and quickly followed it up with List A cricket appearances for Ragama Cricket Club.
His T20 debut came on May 25, 2022.
Eshan has played:
- 5 ODIs for Sri Lanka, taking 4 wickets
- 16 first-class matches, claiming 39 wickets
- 19 List A matches, taking 24 wickets
- 16 T20 matches, with 17 wickets to his name
Before joining the IPL, Eshan participated in the SA20 League with Paarl Royals, a franchise linked to Rajasthan Royals.
In the 2025 SA20 League, he played 3 matches and took 4 wickets, with his best performance being 2/21 against Eastern Cape.
IPL Journey Begins
Sunrisers Hyderabad acquired Eshan Malinga at the IPL auction for ₹1.20 crore. His IPL debut marked a significant milestone in his cricketing career, and he made a promising start by taking a wicket in his first over.