Eshan Malinga's Stellar Over Turns Match for SunRisers Hyderabad Against RCB
Malinga's Game-Changing Performance
In a thrilling IPL 2025 match at Ekana International Stadium, Eshan Malinga of SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) made a significant impact in just one over against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). He initiated a dramatic turnaround by running out Rajat Patidar for 18 runs and then took a stunning return catch off Romario Shepherd's bat on the very next ball.
This pivotal moment occurred during the 16th over when SRH captain Pat Cummins decided to bring Malinga back into the bowling attack, despite him having already given away 27 runs in his initial two overs. Malinga's first three deliveries yielded seven runs, including a leg-bye, before Patidar attempted a risky run after hitting a yorker for a single. Malinga, alert and focused, executed a direct hit to dismiss him. Following that, Shepherd played a casual shot that was gently returned to Malinga, who skillfully caught it with both hands.
Brilliant Bowling 🤝 Excellent Fielding 🫡
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 23, 2025
Eshan Malinga turns things around for #SRH with a double-wicket over 🧡
Updates â–¶ https://t.co/sJ6dOP9ung#TATAIPL | #RCBvSRH | @SunRisers pic.twitter.com/ICjk0zQ3PJ
Malinga continued his impressive performance by dismissing Tim David, who was struggling with a hamstring issue. Known for his explosive batting, David managed only a single run before being dismissed, unable to showcase his usual power-hitting skills.
RCB faced a challenging target of 232 runs to win. Ultimately, they were bowled out for 189 runs in 19.5 overs, falling short by 42 runs. They began their innings strongly, reaching 72 runs without losing a wicket during the powerplay. However, after losing Virat Kohli for 43 runs, Phil Salt contributed a quick fifty off just 27 balls.
After Salt's dismissal for 62 runs by Cummins, Patidar and Jitesh attempted to stabilize the innings, but a series of wickets led to their collapse, ending their chase. RCB now has one remaining league match that they must win, along with relying on favorable outcomes in other matches to secure a top-two finish in the tournament.