Wanindu Hasaranga

Wanindu Hasaranga is a Sri Lankan cricketer who is known for his impressive spin bowling skills. Born on July 29, 1997, in Galle, Sri Lanka, Hasaranga started playing cricket at a young age and quickly made a name for himself as a talented all-rounder. In this article, we will take a closer look at his career and achievements, including his IPL career.

Early Career:

Hasaranga began his cricketing journey at Richmond College in Galle, where he played as a wicket-keeper batsman. However, it was his spin bowling that caught the attention of the selectors, and he soon became known for his leg-breaks and googlies. He made his first-class debut for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in 2016, and soon after, he was picked for Sri Lanka's Under-19 squad.

International Career:

Hasaranga made his international debut for Sri Lanka in a T20I match against Zimbabwe in July 2017. However, it wasn't until the 2018 Nidahas Trophy that he really made his mark. In the tournament, he took six wickets in four matches and was named Player of the Series. Hasaranga continued to impress in T20Is and was a key player in Sri Lanka's series win against Pakistan in 2019.

IPL Career:

Hasaranga's performances in international cricket did not go unnoticed, and in the 2021 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction, he was picked up by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for a base price of INR 1 crore (approx. USD 137,000). He made his IPL debut for RCB against the Rajasthan Royals on September 29, 2021.

In his first match, Hasaranga took 3 wickets for just 20 runs, including the crucial wicket of Sanju Samson. He continued to impress in his next match against the Delhi Capitals, taking 2 wickets for 29 runs. However, RCB lost both matches, and Hasaranga was unable to prevent their defeat.

Style of Play:

Hasaranga is a leg-spinner who is known for his accuracy and ability to deceive batsmen with his variations. He can bowl both the leg-break and googly with equal ease and is also a good fielder. In addition to his bowling skills, Hasaranga is also a handy lower-order batsman and has played some crucial innings for Sri Lanka.

Achievements:

Hasaranga has had a relatively short career so far, but he has already achieved a lot. He was named Player of the Series in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy and has taken 29 wickets in 23 T20Is at an average of 17.27. He also has a hat-trick to his name, which he took against Zimbabwe in January 2020.

In addition to his international success, Hasaranga has also been impressive in domestic cricket. He has taken 81 wickets in 30 first-class matches at an average of 22.51, including two five-wicket hauls.

Conclusion:

Wanindu Hasaranga is a talented cricketer who has already achieved a lot in his short career. His impressive spin bowling skills and ability to contribute with the bat and in the field make him a valuable asset for any team. Although he has only just started his IPL career, his performances so far suggest that he could be a key player for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the future. It will be interesting to see how he develops in the coming years and whether he can become one of Sri Lanka's all-time greats.