Minod Bhanuka

Minod Bhanuka is a wicket-keeper batsman who plays professional cricket for the Sri Lankan National team. From a country where wicket-keeper batsmen have been plenty, that being so, Minod is another bumper.

Bhanuka started off his career as a part of Sri Lanka’s squad in the U-19 World Cup 2014 and made his List-A debut later that year in Dec 14,2014, playing for Sinahalese Sports Club. He came into limelight after scoring 342 runs against Badureliya Sports Club in an innings which helped Sinahalese defeat Badureliya by an innings and 121 runs. 

Following his success in List A, in October 2017, he was named in Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 International (T20I) squad against Pakistan in UAE but wasn’t given a chance to play. 

Later in September, 2019 he was once again introduced in Sri Lanka’s international squad against Pakistan in Pakistan where many of the senior players backed out due to security concerns. He was determined enough to make his country proud on foriegn soil. 

The Sinhalese cricketer made his One Day International debut on 2nd October, 2019 in that series and on 5th October, made his T20I’s debut and eventually led Sri Lanka to a T20I series win in Pakistan for the first time.

After his T20I success in Pakistan, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams in Asia Cup in Bangladesh. Bhanuka made his Test Debut for Sri Lanka against South Africa on 3rd January 2021.

After the departure of legendary wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara, Nirosh Dickwella has been the regular starter for the Sri Lankan squad. But, a string of disappointments against the SENA countries could well give Bhanuka a chance to show his worth as a wicket-keeper batsman to the Lankans.