Madagamagamage Dasun Shanaka

The Sri Lankan captain assumed leadership during a period when the national cricket team was losing its prominence in the cricketing world after the golden era featuring cricketing legends like Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardena, and Lasith Malinga.

During that era, Sri Lanka consistently reached the crucial stages of ICC events. Although the current team hasn’t fully reclaimed its former glory, there has been notable progress in Sri Lanka’s performance under Shanaka’s captaincy. The triumph in the 2022 Asia Cup underlined this growth.

Leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga praised Shanaka’s leadership and told ICC that he consistently supports his players and knows how to extract the best from his team. Despite occasional setbacks and some bitter defeats, Shanaka has always had faith in his players’ abilities, and this trust has yielded rewards over the past 18 months.

In addition to his captaincy, Shanaka is a formidable finisher in limited-overs cricket. While he may not always be the most consistent player, on his day, he can single-handedly turn the game in favor of his team. His career strike rate jumps from 93.80 to 140.22 in the last 10 overs of an ODI innings. Furthermore, he contributes as a handy bowler, especially on surfaces that offer assistance to seamers, such as the Wankhede and Pune’s MCA Stadium.

Given the similarities in playing conditions to those in Sri Lanka, Shanaka, both as a player and captain, aims to guide his team deep into tournaments, further contributing to Sri Lankan cricket’s resurgence.

Memorable One-day performance: In 2018, Shanaka scored 65 runs off 34 balls and took 1/20 against South Africa at Pallekele.

On a lighter note, Shanaka is known for his understated demeanor. He prefers a low-key lifestyle, devoid of flashy cars, extravagant parties, or luxurious villas. He married his childhood sweetheart and shies away from the limelight. Even during his finest moments, like leading his team to victory in the Asia Cup, Shanaka tends to deflect attention to his teammates, like Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Hasaranga. His humility is a quality often highlighted by the Sri Lankan media and coaches.”