Eshan Malinga has emerged as Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) best kept secret and a premier reverse swing specialist at the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season.
On 29 April, which was beyond the halfway stage of the IPL, he the highest wicket taker in the race to wear the coveted Purple Cap with 15 wickets from nine matches, one scalp ahead of Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s (RCB) Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) Jofra Archer and Chennai Super Kings’ (CSK) Anshul Kamboj.
Malinga’s potency lies in his mastery of the old ball; unlike many modern bowlers who rely on contrast swing, he utilises a lower arm action and a tilted seam to achieve consistent late tail that often exceeds two degrees. This skill is maximised by SRH’s tactical preparation of the Hyderabad surface, which is kept bare to facilitate natural scuffing.
As for the statistics since 2025, Malinga is demonstrating clear back half dominance with 60 percent of his deliveries occurring in the second half of the innings. His efficiency is equally impressive – Malinga’s average of 14.05 among pace bowlers with over 100 balls in the death overs is second only to Prasidh Krishna.
Furthermore, with an economy rate of 9.14, he now ranks alongside elite names such as Jasprit Bumrah and Pat Cummins.