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Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Eshan Malinga — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison
Bhuvneshwar Kumar (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) averages 61 fantasy pts per match. Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) averages 39 fantasy pts. Full IPL stats & fantasy cricket comparison: batting, bowling, fielding, and form.
Full season · batting · bowling · fielding · MOTM · form
Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Eshan Malinga — Stat Comparison Table
Head-to-head numbers at a glance. Higher value is highlighted in green (lower is better for economy and bowling/batting averages).
| Statistic | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Eshan Malinga |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 16 | 17 |
| Avg fantasy points | 61 | 39 |
| Best fantasy score | 169 | 119 |
| Runs | 34 | 11 |
| Strike rate | 130.8 | 55.0 |
| Fours | 3 | 0 |
| Sixes | 1 | 0 |
| Highest score | 15 | 5 |
| Wickets | 28 | 20 |
| Economy rate | 7.92 | 8.88 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 4 | 4 |
| Catches | 1 | 3 |
| Total dismissals | 2 | 4 |
| Statistic | Bhuvneshwar Kumar | Eshan Malinga |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 86 | 8 |
| Runs | 67 | 1 |
| Batting average | 8.38 | 1.00 |
| Strike rate | 71.3 | 14.3 |
| Wickets | 85 | 8 |
| Bowling average | 24.41 | 26.88 |
| Economy rate | 7.05 | 9.42 |
| Five-wicket hauls | 1 | 0 |
Bhuvneshwar Kumar vs Eshan Malinga is one of the most searched cricket comparisons, combining international career stats with IPL fantasy data. Both players bring different strengths to your XI, and the right choice can be the difference between topping the leaderboard or missing out.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar is a specialist bowler for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, priced at 9 Cr this season. Over 16 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 973 fantasy points, averaging 61 pts per game with a best of 169 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 34 IPL runs at a strike rate of 130.8, and has claimed 28 IPL wickets with an economy of 7.92. He has won Man of the Match 1 time this season.
International career: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has scored 67 T20I runs in 86 matches at an average of 8.38 internationally. He has also taken 85 T20I wickets at an average of 24.41 with an economy of 7.05.
Eshan Malinga is a specialist bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, priced at 9 Cr. Across 17 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 661 fantasy points, averaging 39 pts per game with a best of 119 pts. He has scored 11 IPL runs at a strike rate of 55, picking up 20 IPL wickets at an economy of 8.88. He has won 1 MOTM award this season.
International career: Eshan Malinga has scored 1 T20I runs in 8 matches at an average of 1.00 internationally. He has also taken 8 T20I wickets at an average of 26.88 with an economy of 9.42.
Batting edge: Bhuvneshwar Kumar leads with the bat this season, making them the better pick if the pitch is expected to be batting-friendly or if the match is being played on a flat track.
Bowling edge: Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the more impactful bowler in IPL 2026, and becomes especially valuable in conditions that offer pace or spin movement.
Fantasy Impact: From a pure fantasy perspective, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the stronger pick right now with an average of 61 pts per game and a best score of 169 pts. The value-for-money metric (points per credit) further reinforces this — always check this number before finalising your captain or vice-captain choice.
Captaincy Recommendation: Based on IPL 2026 season form, Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the safer captaincy option. However, if the opposition's bowling or batting lineup suits the other player, consider rotating your captain pick. Always check the playing XI, pitch report, and toss result before locking in your captain.
Stats are updated after every IPL 2026 match. Compare more players using our Player Comparison Tool or check the Fantasy Leaderboard to see how top managers are building their teams.
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