Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga, is a handy all-rounder, who plays for the Sri Lankan national team in all the three formats. Hasaranga is a right-hand batsman and an aggressive leg-break bowler who dominated the Sri Lankan domestic and U19 circuit.

Hasaranga was selected to be a part of Sri Lanka’s U19 World Cup squad held in 2016. Fast forward one year later, and Hasaranaga received his maiden ODI call up to face Zimbabwe and it turned out to be a dream debut performance for him as he took a hat-trick in his very first ODI match. 

With this achievement, Hasaranga became the youngest player to take a hat-trick on ODI debut, and also became the third debutant in ODI history to scalp a hat-trick, following the footsteps of Kagiso Rabada and Taijul Islam.

In August 2019, Hasaranga finally got a chance to make his T20 debut against New Zealand. The all-rounder did not get a chance to bat, but was very impressive with the ball as he returned with figures of 2 for 21 in his 4 overs, but eventually couldn’t prevent New Zealand from winning the match.

The same year, he was included in the T20I squad to face Pakistan. In that series, Hasaranga picked up 8 wickets in three matches as Sri Lanka won the series 3-0. For his brilliant performance with the ball, Hasaranga was adjudged man of the series. 

In the ODI series against the Windies in 2019, Hasaranga played crucial match winning knocks and was the most economical bowler for his team. His all-round performance ensured that Sri Lanka won the series 3-0 and Hasaranga was rightly declared the player of the series.

After almost being in the international circuit for three years, Hasaranga was selected in the Test squad to play against the Proteas in December 2020. 

He scored his maiden half-century against a solid South African bowling line-up, but Sri Lanka lost the Test match by an innings and 45 runs.

To sum up Wanindu Hasaranga’s career so far, he has the potential to be one of the best all-rounders that Sri Lanka has ever produced. Hasaranga possesses the skills and temperament to survive at the international level, but has neither been consistent with his performance nor has been able to cement his place permanently in any of the three formats.

But with age on his side, Hasaranga can succeed and can become a successful international cricketer for his country.

(As of March 2021)