⚔️HEAD-TO-HEAD
Eshan Malinga vs Rishabh Pant: Who Is Better? IPL 2026 Stats Comparison
Rishabh Pant has the edge on the headline numbers: Rishabh Pant averages 62 IPL fantasy pts/match vs Eshan Malinga's 50. Full T20I, ODI, Test and IPL stats are below.
Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) averages 50 fantasy pts per match. Rishabh Pant (Lucknow Super Giants) averages 62 fantasy pts. Full IPL stats & fantasy cricket comparison: batting, bowling, fielding, and form.
Full season · batting · bowling · fielding · MOTM · form
Eshan Malinga vs Rishabh Pant · 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 | Rishabh Pant |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 20 | 17 |
| Avg fantasy points | 50 | 62 |
| Best fantasy score | 166 | 197 |
| Runs | 31 | 561 |
| Strike rate | 75.6 | 98.9 |
| Fours | 3 | 54 |
| Sixes | 1 | 19 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 3 |
| Centuries (100+) | 0 | 1 |
| Highest score | 14 | 105 |
| Wickets | 27 | 0 |
| Economy rate | 8.44 | 0.00 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 4 | 0 |
| Catches | 5 | 15 |
| Total dismissals | 6 | 20 |
| Statistic | Eshan Malinga | Rishabh Pant |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 11 | 76 |
| Runs | 5 | 1209 |
| Batting average | 5.00 | 23.25 |
| Strike rate | 50.0 | — |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 3 |
| Wickets | 9 | 0 |
| Bowling average | 34.67 | — |
| Economy rate | 9.22 | — |
📋 Format by format
T20I. Eshan Malinga has played 11 T20Is and Rishabh Pant 76. Eshan Malinga has 5 runs at 5.0 (strike rate 50.0), against 1,209 at 23.3 for Rishabh Pant, so Rishabh Pant has scored more. Eshan Malinga also bowls: 9 wickets at an economy of 9.22, while Rishabh Pant has not taken a T20I wicket.
ODI. Eshan Malinga has played 7 ODIs and Rishabh Pant 31. Eshan Malinga has 14 runs at 4.7 (strike rate 25.4), against 871 at 33.5 (106.2) for Rishabh Pant, so Rishabh Pant has scored more. Hundreds: Eshan Malinga 0, Rishabh Pant 1. Fifties: 0 and 5.
International numbers up to 23 August 2026.
Did you know: Rishabh Pant
- His 89 not out at the Gabba in January 2021 sealed a series win in a ground where Australia had not lost a Test since 1988.
- In June 2025 at Headingley he became the first Indian to score centuries in both innings of a Test in England, and only the second wicketkeeper after Andy Flower to do it anywhere.
- He holds the record for the most Test sixes by an Indian batter.
- Lucknow Super Giants bought him for ₹27 crore at the 2025 auction, the highest price in IPL history.
🧠Quick quiz: Eshan Malinga and Rishabh Pant
2 questions, answers explained. No sign-up needed.
- 1. At which ground did Pant's 89 not out win a Test in January 2021?
- 2. What did Pant do at Headingley in June 2025?
Eshan Malinga vs Rishabh Pant 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 1005 fantasy points, averaging 50 pts per game with a best of 166 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 31 IPL runs at a strike rate of 75.6, and has claimed 27 IPL wickets with an economy of 8.44.
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.
Rishabh Pant is a wicket-keeper batter for Lucknow Super Giants, priced at 9.5 Cr. Across 17 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 1058 fantasy points, averaging 62 pts per game with a best of 197 pts. He has scored 561 IPL runs at a strike rate of 98.9.
International career: Rishabh Pant has scored 1,209 T20I runs in 76 matches at an average of 23.25, with 3 half-centuries internationally. In TESTs, he has 3,644 runs across 51 matches (avg 43.4).
Batting edge: Rishabh Pant 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, Rishabh Pant is the stronger pick right now with an average of 62 pts per game and a best score of 197 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, Rishabh Pant 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, Eshan Malinga or Rishabh Pant, and see who actually delivers.
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