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Cooper Connolly vs Eshan Malinga — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison
Cooper Connolly (Punjab Kings) averages 66 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
Cooper Connolly 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 | Cooper Connolly | Eshan Malinga |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 14 | 17 |
| Avg fantasy points | 66 | 39 |
| Best fantasy score | 195 | 119 |
| Runs | 484 | 11 |
| Strike rate | 157.1 | 55.0 |
| Fours | 41 | 0 |
| Sixes | 32 | 0 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 2 | 0 |
| Centuries (100+) | 1 | 0 |
| Highest score | 107 | 5 |
| Wickets | 0 | 20 |
| Economy rate | 0.00 | 8.88 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 0 | 4 |
| Catches | 3 | 3 |
| Total dismissals | 4 | 4 |
| Statistic | Cooper Connolly | Eshan Malinga |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 11 | 8 |
| Runs | 28 | 1 |
| Batting average | 4.67 | 1.00 |
| Strike rate | 93.3 | 14.3 |
| Wickets | 3 | 8 |
| Bowling average | 77.00 | 26.88 |
| Economy rate | 9.24 | 9.42 |
Cooper Connolly 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.
Cooper Connolly is a all-rounder for Punjab Kings, priced at 8.5 Cr this season. Over 14 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 925 fantasy points, averaging 66 pts per game with a best of 195 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 484 IPL runs at a strike rate of 157.1. He has won Man of the Match 1 time this season.
International career: Cooper Connolly has scored 28 T20I runs in 11 matches at an average of 4.67 internationally. He has also taken 3 T20I wickets at an average of 77.00 with an economy of 9.24.
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: Cooper Connolly 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: Eshan Malinga 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, Cooper Connolly is the stronger pick right now with an average of 66 pts per game and a best score of 195 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, Cooper Connolly 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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