Right-arm Sri Lanka bowler Eshan Malinga has been selected to make his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in their match against Punjab Kings today (April 12) – here's all you need to know about the 24-year-old pacer.
Malinga came into the SRH side in replacement for fellow Sri Lanka player Kamindu Mendis. Mendis hadn't struck his rhythm in the two games he'd played for Sunrisers, and as the side currently languish at the bottom of the IPL table the rejig of their overseas balance was a chance at turning their results around.
The other overseas players in SRH's XI were Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen and Pat Cummins, while Malinga joins Mohammad Shami and Harshal Patel, as well as Cummins, in the pace attack. Punjab chose to bat first.
Has Malinga played for Sri Lanka?
Malinga has been picked as one to watch since he was bought by Sunrisers for 1.2 crore in the mega auction. Operating at the death like the Sri Lanka quick he shares his name with, he made his ODI debut earlier this year. He first came to the national side's attention when he clocked 141kph in a nation-wide fast-bowling contest in 2019. While he's not quite as rapid as that anymore, he generates considerable movement through the air and is known for pinpoint accuracy on his yorkers at the death.
Bevon-John Jacobs 🇳🇿
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 26, 2024
Eshan Malinga 🇱🇰
Two uncapped overseas youngsters with extremely limited professional experience were picked up at the 2025 IPL auction 😮
Here's everything you need to know ⬇️#IPLAuction pic.twitter.com/zyork815Nt
While Sunrisers have used Cummins at the end of the innings previously, Malinga may be a more specialist partner for Harshal in that role. His deadly accurate yorker was on full display in the Emerging Asia Cup semi-final last year, when he knocked over Mohammad Haris early in the game.
He subsequently attended a trial with Rajasthan Royals, and played for Paarl Royals in the SA20 earlier this year, in which he took four wickets in three games. SRH outbid Rajasthan for him in the IPL mega-auction however, meaning Malinga comes into their side still yet to make his T20I debut.
Malinga struck in his first over itself, picking the wicket of PBKS opener Prabhsimran Singh.
Follow Wisden for all PSL 2025 updates, including live scores, team squads & news, team schedule and more. The global live streaming details for PSL 2025 can be found here.
