IPL 2025: Who is Eshan Malinga? Know about the SRH debutant and his connection to Lasith Malinga

Eshan Malinga is making his IPL debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the IPL 2025 match against Punjab Kings on Saturday (April 12).

The Sri Lanka pacer has played ODIs for his country and will be getting his first IPL taste for the Orange Army.

Who is Eshan Malinga?

Eshan Malinga is a promising Sri Lankan fast-medium bowler who has been making waves for his skills. Born on February 4, 2001, in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka, Eshan Malinga has a massive full name - Kiribathgala Kankanamalage Eshan Malinga Dharmasena. He began his cricketing journey at Sivali Central College in Ratnapura.

He showcased his early talent in school-level cricket, notably taking 11 wickets for 63 runs in the 10th edition of the 'Ranmini' Battle Inter-School Big Match in 2019. His pace became a talking point later that year when he clocked 141 km/h in a fast-bowling program, emerging as the fastest Under-19 bowler in the country.

Domestic and International Career

Malinga made his domestic T20 debut for Ragama Cricket Club in May 2022, followed by his List A debut in July and first-class debut in September of the same year. Since then, he has been a consistent performer in all formats:

First-Class: 39 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 28.74; best figures 4/33.

List A: 24 wickets in 17 matches at an average of 27.50, including one five-wicket haul.

T20: 17 wickets in 16 matches with an economy rate of 7.70.

His domestic exploits earned him a place in the Sri Lanka A and Emerging squads, culminating in his international debut on January 5, 2025, during the ODI series in New Zealand.

IPL Experience

In the 2025 IPL auction, Eshan Malinga was picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for ₹1.2 crore.

Is Eshan Malinga Related to Lasith Malinga?

Despite sharing a surname and being a fellow fast bowler, Eshan Malinga is not related to the legendary Lasith Malinga. He has clarified this on multiple occasions and emphasized that he aims to carve his own path in international cricket without comparisons.