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| Full name | Kiribathgala Kankanamalage Eshan Malinga Dharmasena | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 4 February 2001 Ratnapura, Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Opanayake Express | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium fast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| ODI debut (cap 216) | 5 January 2025 v New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 16 November 2025 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 111) | 20 November 2025 v Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 1 February 2026 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–present | Ragama Cricket Club | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024 | Jaffna Kings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Paarl Royals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025–present | Sunrisers Hyderabad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2026 | Galle Gallants | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 8 February 2026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Kiribathgala Kankanamalage Eshan Malinga Dharmasena (born 4 February 2001), more commonly known as Eshan Malinga is a Sri Lankan cricketer.[1]
Early and personal life[edit | edit source]
Malinga was born on 4 February 2001 in Ratnapura, Sri Lanka. He studied at Sivali Central College, Ratnapura.
Career[edit | edit source]
Eshan started his cricket career from Sivali College, Ratnapura. He made his first-class debut for Ragama Cricket Club in the 2022–23 Major League Tournament on 2 September 2022.[2] He made his List A debut for Ragama Cricket Club in the 2022–23 Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament on 5 July 2022.[3] He made his Twenty20 debut for Ragama Cricket Club in 2022 Major Clubs T20 Tournament on 25 May 2022.[4]
Indian Premier League[edit | edit source]
Eshan was secured by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) at the IPL 2025 mega auctions for ₹1.20 crore, a price four times higher than his ₹30 lakh base price.[5] Malinga had an impressive debut IPL season, finishing with 13 wickets in seven matches.
He was retained by SRH for the 2026 season at his 2025 sold price of ₹1.2 crore.[6] He finished his second IPL season with 20 wickets in 15 matches, making him the 6th highest wicket-taker in the tournament.
Lanka Premier League[edit | edit source]
In May 2026, he was signed by Galle Gallants as the "Local Star Player" for the Lanka Premier League season 6.[7] He finished the Lanka Premier League season 6 as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets,[8] including a crucial three-wicket haul in the final that helped guide his team to a victory over the Jaffna Kings and secure their maiden LPL title.[9][10][11]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "Eshan Malinga". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "Major League Tournament: Ragama Cricket Club v Kurunegala Youth Cricket Club at Kurunegala, Sep 2-4, 2022". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament at Katunayake, 5 July 2022". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "Ragama CC v Panadura, Colombo (Colts), May 25, 2022, Major Clubs T20 Tournament". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
- ↑ "IPL 2025 auction: Complete list of sold, unsold players, teamwise remaining purse | Mint". mint. Mint. 25 November 2024. Archived from the original on 15 April 2025. Retrieved 15 April 2025.
- ↑ "Sunrisers Hyderabad retain Kamindu Mendis and Eshan Malinga for IPL 2026". Hiru News. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ↑ "LPL teams unveil 20-player direct signing list". The Morning. 31 May 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ "Lahiru (KR), Eshan (GG) top Batsman and Bowler of LPL". Daily News. 10 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga lead Galle to maiden LPL title". The Island. 9 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Charith and Eshan bowl Galle Gallants to victory in LPL final". Daily News. 10 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga propel Galle Gallants to maiden LPL title". India TV News. 9 August 2026. Retrieved 12 August 2026.
External links[edit | edit source]
Template:Sri Lanka Squad 2026 Men's T20 World Cup Template:Galle Gallants squad
- Pages using the JsonConfig extension
- Cricinfo maintenance
- 2001 births
- Living people
- Sri Lankan cricketers
- People from Ratnapura
- Sportspeople from Sabaragamuwa Province
- Ragama Cricket Club cricketers
- Jaffna Kings cricketers
- 21st-century Sri Lankan sportsmen
- Sri Lanka One Day International cricketers
- Sri Lanka Twenty20 International cricketers
- Paarl Royals cricketers
- Sunrisers Hyderabad cricketers