Ind vs SL: Who is Dunith Wellalage, Sri Lankan youngster who stunned Kohli, Gill, Rohit and Rahul in Asia Cup match

Introduced into the attack during the 11th over, Dunith Wellalage left a mark immediately by dismissing Shubman Gill for 19 with his very first ball, initiating a spell that would reshape the course of the game. Virat Kohli, fresh from a record-breaking performance against Pakistan, fell prey to Wellalage in the 14th over. Sri Lanka’s skipper, Dasun Shanaka, made no mistake in taking a simple catch at mid-wicket, sending Kohli back for just 3 runs off 12 balls.

Following the drinks break, the 20-year-old achieved the crucial breakthrough of Rohit Sharma in the 16th over, triggering a turnaround for the reigning Asia Cup champions. India, which had been cruising at 80-0, found itself at 93-3 after Wellalage bowled a maiden over and claimed three wickets while conceding just 4 runs in 3 overs.

Skipper Shanaka brought Dunith Wellalage back into the attack, leading to the dismissal of KL Rahul for 39 in the 30th over. In this Super 4 match between India and Sri Lanka, Wellalage emerged as the star, making headlines in his 13th One Day International (ODI) appearance for Sri Lanka, the 1996 world champions. 

Who is Dunith Wellalage?

He completed his education at St. Joseph’s College in Colombo and made his international debut against Australia at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in 2022. Wellalage has only featured in a single Test match for Sri Lanka, which was against Pakistan. So far, he has taken 16 wickets for Sri Lanka in international cricket.

Notably, Dunith Wellalage captained the Sri Lanka U-19 team in the previous U-19 World Cup. During the tournament, he kicked off his campaign impressively with five-wicket hauls against Scotland and Australia. The Sri Lankan youngster emerged as one of the standout performers in the U-19 World Cup, amassing 17 wickets for Sri Lanka in the ICC event.

As an all-rounder, he also contributed with the bat, scoring 264 runs to become Sri Lanka’s top scorer in the tournament. His remarkable performance included a half-century against Australia. However, it was his unforgettable knock of 113 and figures of 1/29 against South Africa in the U-19 World Cup that truly elevated his status. Wellalage was among the three players selected as stand-by players for the World Cup qualifiers.