There’s no real substitute for the yorker. In an age of endless variations, it remains the one delivery batters rarely find an answer to, no matter how flat the pitch or how free-flowing the strokeplay. Eshan Malinga, who has trained under the legendary Lasith Malinga, has clearly embraced that old-school mastery because time spent learning from a legend inevitably leaves its mark.
On Saturday in Jaipur, that mastery was on full display. Malinga’s relentless accuracy at the death, marked by a stream of searing yorkers, ensured Sunrisers Hyderabad had the final say against Rajasthan Royals, winning by five wickets at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
RR vs SRH, IPL 2026: Highlights | Scorecard
On a pitch where 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi tormented the Sunrisers’ bowlers with a 36-ball hundred, Eshan Malinga’s penultimate over stood out as a display of rare control. In a game dominated by the bat, Malinga conceded just five runs in the 19th over, showcasing exceptional precision in both line and length.
HOW MALINGA, SRH CHOKED RR
With Donovan Ferreira in full flow and Shimron Hetmyer threatening to explode, Rajasthan Royals looked set for a late surge. It needed something out of the ordinary to halt the momentum and Eshan Malinga stepped up. He began the over with two suffocating dot balls, cramping Hetmyer for room and denying him the freedom to swing.
Hetmyer managed to get Ferreira back on strike, but that offered no respite. Malinga kept hitting the blockhole with precision, and Ferreira never quite got on top of him. One searing delivery did the trick; A low full toss that Ferreira could only hit straight down the throat of Heinrich Klaasen in the deep. Ravindra Jadeja fared no better, unable to find a way past Malinga’s relentless accuracy.
Five balls into the over, just a single had come off it. A boundary off the final delivery barely dented the impact as Malinga had already turned the tide. Had that over gone for 15 or more, Sunrisers Hyderabad might have been staring at a target closer to 240, which would have been a far steeper challenge.
At 175 for three in 14 overs, Rajasthan seemed destined for a total in the region of 250. But the Sunrisers staged a superb comeback, conceding just 53 runs in the last six overs. Pat Cummins played his part to perfection as well, showing no signs of rust after he gave only four runs in the 17th over, and castled Riyan Parag with a pinpoint yorker.
MALINGA KEEPS RISING AND RISING
If you think Eshan Malinga’s spell against the Royals was a one-off, think again. His campaign may have begun on a rough note, leaking 35 runs in two overs in the IPL 2026 opener against Royal Challengers Bengaluru, but what has followed is a story of steady rise and growing influence.
Since that game, Malinga has transformed into one of Hyderabad’s key weapons. His evolution has coincided with the team’s resurgence, as they’ve strung together four consecutive wins to climb to third on the points table. In seven matches since the opener, he has picked up 14 wickets at an economy of 8.8, numbers that underline both impact and consistency.
Apart from an expensive outing against Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, where he conceded 46 runs, Malinga has been nothing short of exceptional. It’s no surprise he now sits among the joint-highest wicket-takers in the tournament with 14 scalps.
There have been standout moments too, a four-wicket haul against Delhi Capitals, where he was even on a hat-trick, serving as a reminder of his ability to change games in a matter of deliveries.
With Malinga hitting his stride and Pat Cummins returning to the fold, Sunrisers are beginning to look like a well-rounded and dangerous unit. A side once questioned for its lack of bowling depth has turned that perceived weakness into a strength.
From losing three of their first four matches to scripting a remarkable turnaround, the Sunrisers’ rise has been one of the stories of the season, and Malinga has been at the heart of it.
Next up is a trip to Mumbai, where Malinga could have the special opportunity to play in front of Lasith Malinga, against Mumbai Indians. The conditions may still challenge the bowlers, but if recent performances are anything to go by, Sunrisers will once again look to their yorker specialist to deliver
