⚔️HEAD-TO-HEAD
Eshan Malinga vs Virat Kohli — IPL 2026 Fantasy Cricket Stats Comparison
Eshan Malinga (Sunrisers Hyderabad) averages 39 fantasy pts per match. Virat Kohli (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) averages 82 fantasy pts. Full IPL stats & fantasy cricket comparison: batting, bowling, fielding, and form.
Full season · batting · bowling · fielding · MOTM · form
Eshan Malinga vs Virat Kohli — 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 | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 17 | 16 |
| Avg fantasy points | 39 | 82 |
| Best fantasy score | 119 | 206 |
| Runs | 11 | 675 |
| Strike rate | 55.0 | 165.8 |
| Fours | 0 | 73 |
| Sixes | 0 | 25 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 5 |
| Centuries (100+) | 0 | 1 |
| Highest score | 5 | 105 |
| Wickets | 20 | 0 |
| Economy rate | 8.88 | 0.00 |
| Best spell (wkts) | 4 | 0 |
| Catches | 3 | 9 |
| Total dismissals | 4 | 9 |
| Statistic | Eshan Malinga | Virat Kohli |
|---|---|---|
| Matches | 8 | 118 |
| Runs | 1 | 3969 |
| Batting average | 1.00 | 48.40 |
| Strike rate | 14.3 | 136.1 |
| Half-centuries (50+) | 0 | 37 |
| Wickets | 8 | 4 |
| Bowling average | 26.88 | 51.00 |
| Economy rate | 9.42 | 8.05 |
Eshan Malinga vs Virat Kohli 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 17 matches in IPL 2026, he has scored a total of 661 fantasy points, averaging 39 pts per game with a best of 119 pts. With the bat he has accumulated 11 IPL runs at a strike rate of 55, and has claimed 20 IPL wickets with an economy of 8.88. 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.
Virat Kohli is a specialist batter for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, priced at 11 Cr. Across 16 matches in IPL 2026, he has earned 1317 fantasy points, averaging 82 pts per game with a best of 206 pts. He has scored 675 IPL runs at a strike rate of 165.8. He has won 3 MOTM awards this season.
International career: Virat Kohli has scored 14,675 ODI runs in 308 matches at an average of 58.70, with 54 centuries internationally. He has also taken 5 ODI wickets at an average of 136.00 with an economy of 6.16. In TESTs, he has 9,230 runs across 123 matches (avg 46.9).
Batting edge: Virat Kohli 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, Virat Kohli is the stronger pick right now with an average of 82 pts per game and a best score of 206 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, Virat Kohli 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.
Found an issue or have a suggestion? Contact us — we’d love to hear from you.