⚔️HEAD-TO-HEAD
Dasun Shanaka vs Eshan Malinga: Who Is Better? IPL 2026 Stats Comparison
Eshan Malinga has the edge on the headline numbers: Eshan Malinga averages 56 IPL fantasy pts/match vs Dasun Shanaka's 53. Full T20I, ODI, Test and IPL stats are below.
Dasun Shanaka (Rajasthan Royals) averages 53 fantasy pts per match. Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) averages 56 fantasy pts. Full IPL stats & fantasy cricket comparison: batting, bowling, fielding, and form.
Full season · batting · bowling · fielding · MOTM · form
Dasun Shanaka 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 | Dasun Shanaka | Eshan Malinga |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 20 | 20 |
| Avg fantasy points | 53 | 56 |
| Best fantasy score | 133 | 166 |
| Runs | 435 | 30 |
| Strike rate | 166.7 | 83.3 |
| Fours | 26 | 3 |
| Sixes | 33 | 1 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 2 | 0 |
| Highest score | 97 | 14 |
| Wickets | 8 | 30 |
| Economy rate | 9.66 | 8.58 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 3 | 4 |
| Catches | 8 | 5 |
| Total dismissals | 9 | 6 |
| Statistic | Dasun Shanaka | Eshan Malinga |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 131 | 11 |
| Runs | 1912 | 5 |
| Batting average | 20.56 | 5.00 |
| Strike rate | — | 50.0 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 8 | 0 |
| Wickets | 46 | 9 |
| Bowling average | 25.11 | 34.67 |
| Economy rate | — | 9.22 |
📋 Format by format
T20I. Dasun Shanaka has played 131 T20Is and Eshan Malinga 11. Dasun Shanaka has 1,912 runs at 20.6, against 5 at 5.0 (50.0) for Eshan Malinga, so Dasun Shanaka has scored more. With the ball, Dasun Shanaka has 46 wickets and Eshan Malinga 9 at 9.22; Dasun Shanaka has more wickets.
ODI. Dasun Shanaka has played 71 ODIs and Eshan Malinga 7. Dasun Shanaka has 1,299 runs at 22.4, against 14 at 4.7 (25.4) for Eshan Malinga, so Dasun Shanaka has scored more. Hundreds: Dasun Shanaka 2, Eshan Malinga 0. Fifties: 4 and 0. With the ball, Dasun Shanaka has 27 wickets and Eshan Malinga 4 at 6.03; Dasun Shanaka has more wickets.
International numbers up to 14 June 2026.
Dasun Shanaka 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.
Dasun Shanaka is a all-rounder for Rajasthan Royals, priced at 8.5 Cr this season. Over 20 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 1050 fantasy points, averaging 53 pts per game with a best of 133 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 435 IPL runs at a strike rate of 166.7, and has claimed 8 IPL wickets with an economy of 9.66.
International career: Dasun Shanaka has scored 1,912 T20I runs in 131 matches at an average of 20.56, with 8 half-centuries internationally. He has also taken 46 T20I wickets at an average of 25.11. In ODIs, he has 1,299 runs across 71 matches (avg 22.4).
Eshan Malinga is a specialist bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, priced at 9 Cr. Across 20 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 1124 fantasy points, averaging 56 pts per game with a best of 166 pts. He has scored 30 IPL runs at a strike rate of 83.3, picking up 30 IPL wickets at an economy of 8.58.
International career: Eshan Malinga has scored 5 T20I runs in 11 matches at an average of 5.00 internationally. He has also taken 9 T20I wickets at an average of 34.67 with an economy of 9.22.
Batting edge: Dasun Shanaka 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, Eshan Malinga is the stronger pick right now with an average of 56 pts per game and a best score of 166 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, Eshan Malinga 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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SETTLE IT IN A GAME
Numbers only get you so far. Pick a side — Dasun Shanaka or Eshan Malinga — and see who actually delivers.
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