Famous Sri Lankan Cricketers

Muttiah Muralitharan is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, businessman, and former professional cricketer known for his exceptional bowling skills. He holds the record for the most wickets in international cricket, with over 800 Test wickets and 530 ODI wickets. Despite controversy over his bowling action, he was cleared by the International Cricket Council after analysis. Muralitharan was ranked number one in Test bowlers for 1,711 days and is considered one of the greatest players in cricket history. He retired in 2010 after a successful career that included winning the 1996 Cricket World Cup and multiple records.

Kumar Sangakkara is a former Sri Lankan professional cricketer known for his exceptional career in international cricket. He represented Sri Lanka in 134 Test matches, excelling as a wicket-keeper-batter. Sangakkara is revered as one of the greatest players of his kind in cricket history. He has an impressive record as the second-highest run-scorer in all three forms of international cricket, with a total of 28,016 runs and 63 centuries. Post-retirement, Sangakkara has been active as a commentator, served as President of the MCC, and coached Rajasthan Royals in the IPL. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2021.

Separamadu Lasith Malinga is a former Sri Lankan cricketer known for his exceptional skills as a right-arm fast bowler. Widely regarded as one of the greatest limited overs bowlers from Sri Lanka, Malinga was a specialist death bowler and led the national team to victory in the 2014 T20 World Cup. His unorthodox bowling action and deadly slower ball yorkers revolutionized death bowling in cricket. Malinga holds multiple records in international cricket, including being the only bowler to achieve two World Cup hat-tricks and the first to take a double hat-trick.

Sanath Jayasuriya is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, widely regarded as one of the greatest all-rounders in ODI cricket history. Known for his explosive batting, powerful striking, and match-winning performances, Jayasuriya revolutionized one-day international cricket in the mid-1990s. He played a key role in Sri Lanka's victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup and was a successful captain. With a career spanning two decades, Jayasuriya holds the record for scoring over 10,000 runs and capturing more than 300 wickets in ODIs. He also excelled in Test cricket before retiring in 2007. Jayasuriya later served as chairman of the Sri Lanka cricket selection committee and held political positions in his native country.

Tillakaratne Mudiyanselage Dilshan, commonly known as TM Dilshan, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and ex-captain of the national team. Renowned for his innovative playing style, Dilshan excelled in all aspects of the game as a right-hand batsman, off-break bowler, wicket-keeper, and fielder. He introduced the famous "Dilscoop" shot and was a key player in Sri Lanka's victories, including the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. Dilshan achieved numerous milestones, such as scoring 10,000 ODI runs and being the first to hit 200 fours in T20Is. His impactful career culminated with his retirement from ODI and T20I cricket in 2016.

Angelo Mathews is a prominent Sri Lankan cricketer known for his versatile skills in all formats of the game. He has served as the captain of the national team, leading them to significant victories such as the 2014 Asia Cup. Mathews has been a key player in major tournaments, including the ICC World Twenty20 and Cricket World Cup. He holds a notable record with Lasith Malinga for the highest ninth-wicket partnership in ODI cricket. With over 100 Test matches under his belt, Mathews continues to make valuable contributions to Sri Lankan cricket.

Aravinda de Silva is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain, known for his all-round skills. He played a key role in the Sri Lankan team's victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup, scoring a match-winning century in the final. De Silva has held various positions in Sri Lankan Cricket post his retirement. He was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2023. Notably, he is the only player to achieve a century and take three or more wickets in a World Cup final. De Silva also holds the record for scoring two unbeaten hundreds in a Test match.

Arjuna Ranatunga is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and politician. He led the Sri Lankan cricket team to victory in the 1996 Cricket World Cup and played a key role in transforming them into a competitive force. After retiring from cricket, he held various positions in Sri Lanka Cricket administration. He entered politics in 2005 and served as the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation. Ranatunga has been involved in nurturing young cricket talent and has also taken on leadership roles within the cricketing community, including serving as the interim head of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Ajantha Mendis is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer known for his unique bowling action variations, earning him the nickname "mystery spinner." He represented Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game and was a key player in the team that won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. Mendis made significant contributions in both One Day Internationals and Test matches, achieving records such as the fastest 50 wickets in ODIs and an eight-wicket haul on Test debut. He also excelled in Twenty20 Internationals, holding the world record for the best bowling figures until it was broken in 2019. Mendis received recognition for his talent, including the ICC Emerging Player of the Year award and the prestigious Sri Lankan order of Bantu.

Marvan Atapattu is a Sri Lankan cricket coach, commentator, and former cricketer known for his technical batting skills. He played for Sri Lanka for 17 years, scoring six double centuries in Test cricket. Atapattu captained the Sri Lankan team to victory in the 2004 Asia Cup and was a part of the squad that won the 1996 Cricket World Cup. He has coached the Canada and Singapore national cricket teams and served as the head coach of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team from April 2014 to September 2015.

Dinesh Chandimal is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer known for his skills as a right-handed middle-order batter and occasional wicket-keeper. He has served as the captain of the Sri Lanka national cricket team, leading them to victory in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. Chandimal later joined the Sri Lankan Army as a volunteer commissioned officer and began playing for the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club. In August 2020, he achieved a notable milestone by scoring the highest individual score in domestic first-class cricket in Sri Lanka with an unbeaten 354 runs against Saracenc CC.

Kusal Perera is a prominent Sri Lankan cricketer known for his impressive performances in limited overs cricket. He has showcased his talent as a former ODI captain and a key player in the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 winning team. Perera gained recognition for his remarkable innings against South Africa in 2019, where he scored 153 not out, securing victory with a crucial partnership in the last wicket. His exceptional skills have earned him accolades such as being named the best test performance for 2019 by ESPNcricinfo. Recently, he was appointed as the captain of the Sri Lankan team for various international series, including the 2021 T20 World Cup.

Denagamage Praboth Mahela de Silva Jayawardene is a highly respected former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain of the national team. Known for his exceptional batting skills, he achieved numerous milestones in his career, including scoring over 10,000 runs in both Test and One Day International cricket. Jayawardene led his team to victory in the 2008 Asia Cup and was a key player in winning the 2014 ICC World Twenty20. He also excelled as a fielder and received recognition as the best International captain and Test cricket player. In 2021, he was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

Dhananjaya de Silva is a renowned Sri Lankan cricketer, excelling in all formats of the game. He represents Sri Lanka internationally and Tamil Union in domestic cricket. Notably, he serves as the current captain of the national team in Test matches. In 2017, he was recognized as the Test batsman of the year for the 2016–17 season at Sri Lanka Cricket's annual awards, showcasing his exceptional skills and contributions to the sport at a professional level.

Kusal Mendis is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, renowned for his role as a top-order batter in all formats of the game. Despite limited first-class experience, he quickly rose to prominence, earning recognition as the One Day International (ODI) batsman of the year for the 2016-17 season. He currently serves as the captain of the national ODI team, showcasing his leadership abilities alongside his impressive batting skills. Mendis' career highlights include his consistent performance at the international level, solidifying his position as a key player in Sri Lankan cricket.

Thisara Perera is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who played all formats for the national team and captained in limited-overs matches. He is known for his aggressive left-handed batting style and right-arm medium-fast bowling. Perera has represented various teams in franchise T20 cricket worldwide. Notable achievements include being part of the Sri Lankan team that won the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, taking hat-tricks in both ODI & T20I matches, and hitting six sixes in an over in domestic cricket. He announced his retirement from international cricket in May 2021 but continues to play at domestic and franchise levels.

Akila Dananjaya is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer known for playing all forms of the game for the national team. He made history in March 2021 by being the first bowler to take a hat-trick and be hit for six sixes in the same match. However, he faced challenges in his career when his bowling action was declared illegal, resulting in suspensions from international matches. Despite these setbacks, he worked on correcting his action and was eventually cleared to bowl in international cricket again in 2021.

Chamari Atapattu is a prominent Sri Lankan cricketer and the current captain of the women's Twenty20 International team of Sri Lanka. She has made significant contributions to the sport and has been recognized for her outstanding performance, being named the Women's Cricketer of the Year for the 2016–17 season. Chamari is known for being the first Sri Lankan woman to play in franchise cricket. Her achievements have been honored with the dedication of a seating zone at the Sydney Cricket Ground named after her as the Chamari Bay.

Duleep Mendis is a former Sri Lankan cricketer and captain who led the national team to its first Test series victory in 1985. Known for his batting prowess, Mendis achieved his best performances between 1982 and 1985. He later transitioned to coaching and is currently the coach of the Oman national cricket team. In recognition of his contributions to cricket, Mendis was awarded the prestigious Deshamanya title in 1996, which is Sri Lanka's second-highest national honor.

Suranga Lakmal is a former Sri Lankan cricketer known for his right-arm fast bowling and right-handed batting skills. He made his debut in 2008-2009 and was involved in the 2009 Lahore attacks, resulting in him carrying 'foreign objects' for his playing career. Despite struggles with injuries and fitness, he became a key player in the Test team, taking 168 wickets. Lakmal excelled in away conditions and was part of the 2014 ICC World Twenty20 winning team. He retired from international cricket in 2022 after a successful career with Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club.

Rumesh Ratnayake is a former Sri Lankan cricketer known for his skills as a right arm fast-medium bowler and hard-hitting lower order batsman. He played in 23 Test matches and 70 One Day Internationals from 1982 to 1993. Ratnayake was a key figure in the Sri Lankan fast bowling attack, showcasing his ability to swing the new ball and generate pace and bounce. Despite a career marked by injuries, he made significant contributions to the national team and later transitioned to coaching, serving as interim head coach of the Sri Lanka national cricket team in 2017. Currently, he works as a fast bowling coach at the High Performance Center of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Chamari Athapaththu is a prominent Sri Lankan cricketer who has made significant contributions to the sport both on the national and international level. She currently serves as the captain of the women's Twenty20 International team of Sri Lanka, showcasing her leadership skills and dedication to the game. Recognized for her talent, she was named the Women's Cricketer of the Year for the 2016–17 season and holds the distinction of being the first Sri Lankan woman to play in franchise cricket. Chamari's achievements have earned her widespread acclaim, including the honor of having a dedicated seating zone named after her at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Udeni Dona is a cricketer from Sri Lanka who currently represents the United Arab Emirates national cricket team. She made her debut in Women's Twenty20 International (WT20I) cricket against the Netherlands during the World Twenty20 Qualifier in July 2018. Dona's skills and dedication have earned her a spot in the United Arab Emirates squad for the 2018 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier tournament. With a promising career ahead, she continues to showcase her talent and contribute to the team's success on the international stage.

Shashikala Siriwardene is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who captained the Sri Lankan women's cricket team in WODIs. She holds the record for being the only woman cricketer to take 100 wickets in WODIs for Sri Lanka, along with scoring 1,000+ runs. She is also the leading wicket-taker for Sri Lanka in WT20Is. With a career spanning 17 years, she played a pivotal role in two Women's Cricket World Cup campaigns. Apart from cricket, she has experience working in human resources for a clothing firm and has been associated with the Sri Lanka Navy since 2011.