Seven games later, the picture looks a lot rosier. The Orange Army won six out of those seven matches, and with Cummins now back, it is well placed to secure a playoff spot.<\/p>\n
Most of the headlines have gone to its belligerent batting featuring the likes of Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Travis Head, and Heinrich Klaasen, but SRH\u2019s resurgence has been also powered by the quiet consistency of its Sri Lankan middle-overs expert Eshan Malinga.<\/p>\n
Malinga joined the franchise in the 2025 mega-auction for Rs. 1.20 crore, and impressed in his limited outings, taking 13 wickets in seven matches.<\/p>\n
He has improved upon that this year despite coming into the tournament after missing the T20 World Cup through injury. He has established himself as a regular face at the business end of the Purple Cap standings, and is the side\u2019s leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 25.50 and economy rate of 9.63.<\/p>\n
While Malinga may not have been a confirmed starter in many a viewer\u2019s SRH playing XII ahead of the season, one person who has not been surprised by his success is M. Senthilnathan, head coach at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai, where Malinga trained in 2024 as part of an exchange programme with the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC).<\/p>\n
\u201cTechnically, he doesn\u2019t have too many flaws,\u201d Senthilnathan told Sportstar about his former charge. \u201cThe basic thing is that he\u2019s able to mix his slower bouncers, variations, and yorkers, with control, and that is why he\u2019s playing all the games for SRH.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Eshan](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/l6o81q\/article70983659.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/EM_MRF.jpeg\" "\\"Eshan")
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\n SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT\n <\/p>\n
![\"lightbox-info\"\/](\"https:\/\/assetsss.thehindu.com\/theme\/images\/SSRX\/lightbox-info.svg\")
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Eshan Malinga trained at the MRF Pace Foundation in Chennai in 2024 as part of an exchange programme with Sri Lanka Cricket.
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\n SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cHe looks confident as well,\u201d he further added. \u201cIf you see him whenever he gets the ball, he is eager to do his best even if the chips are down. Still he doesn\u2019t show anything on his face, he\u2019s ready to do something for the team. So this is a very good quality.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd when he was here, he was also the same. He was a very keen learner and his work ethic was brilliant.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malinga\u2019s success stands out in comparison to other pace bowlers with a similar wicket tally particularly because he does not use the new ball. The 25-year-old has not had first use of the new ball in this tournament, and just four of his 16 wickets have come in the PowerPlay.<\/p>\n
Senthilnathan says that his success can be attributed to his length. \u201cAt the end of the day, a good length ball is a good length ball in any format, and he is able to hit that most of the time,\u201d he says. \u201cSometimes batters connect it, but it is always a wicket-taking ball at the right line and length.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Eshan](\"https:\/\/ss-i.thgim.com\/public\/incoming\/q0vvr0\/article70983487.ece\/alternates\/FREE_1200\/EM_pitchmap.png\" "\\"Eshan")
<\/p>\n Eshan Malinga has established himself as the side\u2019s leading wicket-taker, with 16 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 25.50 and an economy rate of 9.63.
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\n SPORTSTAR\n <\/p>\n
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Eshan Malinga has established himself as the side\u2019s leading wicket-taker, with 16 wickets in 12 innings at an average of 25.50 and an economy rate of 9.63.
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\n SPORTSTAR\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s also able to mix it with good slower bouncers and yorkers,\u201d he further explained. \u201cThose kinds of deliveries are all wicket-taking, and most difficult for the batters to put away as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another particularly impressive aspect of Malinga\u2019s performances has been his ability to generate reverse-swing with the older ball, a tool that has made him especially effective with the older ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor reverse-swing, the first thing you need is pace,\u201d Senthilnathan said. \u201cYou need a speed 135-145kmph to reverse the ball, and your length has to be up there for the ball to move.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor him, it\u2019s all down to his basic length. If you see him, batters think they can hit because the length is there. But it\u2019s difficult, and when he comes in later part of the over, he gets a little closer like a yorker where it reverses.\u201d<\/p>\n
Malinga himself said that his slightly slingy action has a lot to do with his ability to generate reverse-swing. \u201cI don\u2019t have to make too many changes to my bowling to get reverse, it comes from my action and pace,\u201d he told broadcasters earlier in the season. \u201cSo when the ball is reversing, I just have to focus on executing.\u201d<\/p>\n
But for all of Malinga\u2019s skill, his mental strength and calmness has been equally impressive bowling in Hyderabad, where bowlers have regularly disappeared out of the park.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is a very cool character all the time, very soft-spoken. You won\u2019t see him fight on the field, or see big emotions coming out of him,\u201d his former coach said. \u201cHe has a very nice composed head. He doesn\u2019t go after success too much. He really gets, you know, highly motivated or shows emotion when he takes a good catch in the field, but otherwise, you don\u2019t see him show too much.\u201d<\/p>\n
With SRH having put itself in a strong position to qualify for the playoffs now, it will be hopeful that Malinga can carry his strong form forward into the business end of the tournament, and make further telling contributions.<\/p>\n
( Statistics updated until May 14<\/i>)<\/p>\n
Published on May 15, 2026<\/p>\n<\/div>\n