Defending champions Sri Lanka suffer defeat against India in the Asia Cup
Positive performances despite the defeat
Despite the outcome, there were a few positives that the Lankan unit would relish, especially with the ODI World Cup approaching. 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage in particular was very impressive, who first dictated the show with the ball, before troubling Rohit Sharma and Co. with the bat.
Impressive all-round performance by Dunith Wellalage
- Wellalage troubled the star-studded Indian batting line-up
- Completed his maiden five-wicket haul in ODIs
- Accounted for the wickets of Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, and Hardik Pandya
- Conceded just 40 runs from 10 overs
Wellalage’s heroics with the bat
Wellalage put on an impressive show with the bat as he remained unbeaten on 42 off 46 balls. He stitched a crucial 63-run stand with Dhananjaya de Silva but eventually Sri Lanka fell short of the target. Wellalage’s all-round performance impressed several legends, including Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga.
“It’s fair to say that SL played with 12 players today. That’s how good Dunith was,” Malinga wrote. “He’s got a brilliant head on his young shoulders to go with his all-round skill set. I believe he’s on his way to becoming the most important player for SL in ODIs for the next decade.”
Wellalage’s potential for the upcoming World Cup
Wellalage’s commanding performance against India suggests that he could play a major role for Sri Lanka in the upcoming World Cup. His skills as a left-arm spinner could be beneficial in the Indian conditions.
Wellalage had finished as the leading wicket-taker at last year’s ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Impressed cricket legends on social media
Wellalage’s impressive performance caught the attention of cricket legends such as R Ashwin, Irfan Pathan, Waqar Younis, who appreciated his skills on social media.
