In a dazzling display of left-arm spin bowling, 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage of Sri Lanka left the cricket world in awe as he claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in One Day Internationals (ODIs), dismantling India’s top order in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo on Tuesday.
Wellalage’s exceptional performance brought a sudden halt to India’s aggressive start, sending key Indian batsmen including Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya back to the pavilion, showcasing his immense potential as a spinner on the international stage.
India had raced to an impressive 80 for no loss in just 11 overs before Wellalage’s masterclass with the ball began. With his first delivery, he clean-bowled Shubman Gill, uprooting the off-stump in a spectacular fashion.
Virat Kohli, one of the world’s most renowned batsmen, was the next victim, offering an easy catch to short midwicket. Rohit Sharma followed suit in the very next over, falling prey to a delivery that kept unusually low, crashing into his stumps.
In his second spell, Wellalage showcased his all-around skills by accepting a return catch off KL Rahul and nicking off Hardik Pandya to the wicketkeeper, with Sri Lanka’s successful DRS review confirming the latter dismissal.
The left-arm spinner exhibited remarkable control over the ball, extracting sharp turn off the surface, as seen in the dismissal of Shubman Gill. He also displayed his mastery of the arm ball, trapping Rohit Sharma with a straighter delivery that stayed low, leaving the Indian captain bewildered.
Wellalage’s incredible spell culminated with a fifth wicket, symbolizing his breakthrough performance on the international stage. His name was etched in the record books as he secured the prized wickets of Rohit, Gill, Kohli, Rahul, and Hardik, securing his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs.
Wellalage’s journey to prominence began during the 2022 U19 World Cup, where he captained the Sri Lankan team. Throughout the tournament, he displayed his prowess with both bat and ball, emerging as the highest wicket-taker with 17 scalps in six matches, at an impressive average of 13.58. Additionally, he contributed with the bat, amassing 264 runs at an average of 44, earning the distinction of being Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer.
The talented young spinner made his ODI debut against Australia in June 2022 at Pallekele, making an immediate impact by claiming two wickets in a closely fought encounter that ended in a two-wicket loss for Sri Lanka. He also made a solitary Test appearance for his country, facing Pakistan in Galle in July 2022.
Dunith Wellalage’s remarkable performance against India in the Asia Cup Super Four match has firmly established him as a rising star in international cricket, and cricket fans worldwide eagerly await his future exploits on the pitch.
Summary:
- Dunith Wellalage, a 20-year-old left-arm spinner from Sri Lanka, claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs against India in the Asia Cup 2023 Super Four match in Colombo.
- Wellalage dismissed key Indian batsmen, including Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya, to halt India’s aggressive start.
- His impressive control over the ball, sharp turn off the surface, and mastery of the arm ball were on full display during his spell.
- Wellalage first gained recognition during the 2022 U19 World Cup, where he was the highest wicket-taker and Sri Lanka’s highest run-scorer.
- He made his ODI debut against Australia in June 2022 and played a single Test against Pakistan in July 2022, showcasing his potential on the international stage.
- Wellalage’s stellar performance against India has solidified his status as a rising star in international cricket.