In a significant milestone amid the T20 World Cup fever, Sri Lanka’s leg spin sensation and T20 captain Wanindu Hasaranga etched his name in cricketing history by surpassing the 100 wickets mark in T20 International (T20I) cricket. This achievement makes him the second Sri Lankan to accomplish this feat, following in the footsteps of the legendary Lasith Malinga. Since his debut in 2019, Hasaranga boasts the highest wicket tally among all men’s T20I bowlers. What’s more, he is ranked No. 2 in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20I bowling rankings, having been numero uno at one time.
Kusal Mendis has notched up an impressive milestone in T20Is by crossing the 1,500 runs mark during a stellar innings against Bangladesh in Sylhet not long ago. His blistering knock of 86 propelled him to become the third Sri Lankan player to achieve this feat in the shortest format. Mendis’ innings showcased his ability to dominate the bowling and added to his tally of 432 runs against Bangladesh alone.
When Graeme Labrooy took charge as chief selector back in 2017, he made a bold move by selecting the then 21-year-old Sadeera Samarawickrama, despite his modest domestic record. He saw the right attitude in the youngster – attacking batting, great fielding, diligent training and humility… qualities that are vital if Sri Lankan cricket is to relive its glory days. However, changes in management saw Samarawickrama sidelined until recently. As Sri Lanka’s leading scorer in the last ODI World Cup, his success underscores the importance of selecting and nurturing talent for national cricket’s prosperity.
Matheesha Pathirana emerged as Sri Lanka’s hero in their thrilling T20I clash against Afghanistan in Dambulla. The young speedster showed maturity beyond his years and claimed career best figures of 4 for 24 in only his second T20I appearance. With this stellar performance, Pathirana reached a milestone by reaching 50 wickets in T20 cricket at the age of 21 years and 61 days. Notably, he holds the record as the youngest Sri Lankan bowler to take three or more wickets in a T20I and win the Player of the Match award in the shortest format of the game. In this year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), Sri Lanka’s youngest team member showcased his unique talent and has gained a massive following among the yellow clad Chennai Super Kings (CSK) fans.
Maheesh Theekshana enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame, thanks to his reputation as a mystery spinner. And he continues to follow the skipper in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) T20I bowling rankings – Hasaranga (No. 2) and Theekshana (No. 5) have for long featured among the top 10 bowlers in the shortest format of the game.
Kamindu Mendis is a versatile cricketer known for his prowess as an all-rounder. The southpaw is renowned for his elegant stroke play and ability to anchor an innings, as evidenced by consistent performances in domestic and international cricket. Notably, his recent performances in Test cricket have garnered attention as they showcase Mendis’ potential as a top order batsman and reliable bowler.