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Eshan Malinga vs Hardik Pandya — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison
Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) averages 47 fantasy pts per match. Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians) averages 43 fantasy pts. Full IPL stats & fantasy cricket comparison: batting, bowling, fielding, and form.
Full season · batting · bowling · fielding · MOTM · form
Eshan Malinga vs Hardik Pandya — 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 | Eshan Malinga | Hardik Pandya |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 20 | 10 |
| Avg fantasy points | 47 | 43 |
| Best fantasy score | 159 | 87 |
| Runs | 11 | 194 |
| Strike rate | 55.0 | 136.6 |
| Fours | 0 | 19 |
| Sixes | 0 | 7 |
| Highest score | 5 | 34 |
| Wickets | 27 | 4 |
| Economy rate | 8.98 | 11.41 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 4 | 1 |
| Catches | 4 | 2 |
| Total dismissals | 5 | 2 |
| Statistic | Eshan Malinga | Hardik Pandya |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 8 | 136 |
| Runs | 1 | 2221 |
| Batting average | 1.00 | 27.76 |
| Strike rate | 14.3 | 145.1 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 9 |
| Wickets | 8 | 114 |
| Bowling average | 26.88 | 26.82 |
| Economy rate | 9.42 | 8.33 |
Eshan Malinga vs Hardik Pandya 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.
Eshan Malinga is a specialist bowler for Sunrisers Hyderabad, priced at 9 Cr this season. Over 20 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 948 fantasy points, averaging 47 pts per game with a best of 159 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 11 IPL runs at a strike rate of 55, and has claimed 27 IPL wickets with an economy of 8.98. He has won Man of the Match 1 time 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.
Hardik Pandya is a all-rounder for Mumbai Indians, priced at 10 Cr. Across 10 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 428 fantasy points, averaging 43 pts per game with a best of 87 pts. He has scored 194 IPL runs at a strike rate of 136.6, picking up 4 IPL wickets at an economy of 11.41.
International career: Hardik Pandya has scored 2,221 T20I runs in 136 matches at an average of 27.76, with 9 half-centuries internationally. He has also taken 114 T20I wickets at an average of 26.82 with an economy of 8.33. In ODIs, he has 1,897 runs across 92 matches (avg 33.3).
Batting edge: Hardik Pandya 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 47 pts per game and a best score of 159 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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