Nilakshi de Silva

Nilakshi de Silva is a right-handed batswoman who plays for the Sri Lanka women’s cricket team. She made her international debut in 2013 and since then has been a regular feature, especially in the shortest format of the game. 

The elegant batter played her first international game in the T20I series against West Indies in 2013. She made her debut in the first T20I game and was not required to bat as Sri Lanka won the match convincingly. 

Two years later she made her ODI debut against New Zealand in the 2015 ICC Women’s Championship. She took her maiden ODI wicket by dismissing Katie Perkins and was economical with the ball in hand.

de Silva was the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in the 2018 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup, with 7 dismissals in five matches, and earned a reputation of breaking the partnerships at crucial junctures. 

She had a disappointing T20I series against Australia in 2019. The Panadura born could only amass 12 runs in three matches and was vulnerable against the hostile pace bowling of the Aussies.

de Silva has been around the Sri Lankan setup for the past 8 years but has failed to cement her place in the national squad. She has shown glimpses of her wicket-taking abilities, but her technique has repeatedly being questioned, especially on the away tours.

(As of April 2021)