Bhanuka Rajapaksa Biography
Full Name | Bhanuka Rajapaksa |
Date of Birth | 24 October 1991 |
Birthplace | Colombo, Sri Lanka |
Age | 30 years old |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Role | Batsman |
Batting | Left-handed |
Bowling | Right arm medium |
ODI Debut | 18 July 2021 vs India |
T20 Debut | 5 October 2019 vs Pakistan |
Test Debut | NA |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Early life
Rajapaksa started his cricket career as a Royal College Colombo student. As a batsman and a solid medium pace bowler, he was an important member of the Royal College team. Squash and swimming are two of his other favorite sports. Rajapaksa was named as a batsman for the 2010 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand. With 253 runs, he finished the tournament as Sri Lanka’s best run scorer.
In 2009, he led the U19 team on a tour of Australia, slamming 154 off 111 balls in the second U19 ODI and finishing the series as the leading run-scorer. He compares himself to Adam Gilchrist in terms of batting style. His 154* is the second-highest individual score in U19 ODI cricket for Sri Lanka. Rajapaksa made history by being the first Sri Lankan U19 cricketer to hit 150 runs in an ODI innings. He was also the first Sri Lankan U19 player to score 1000 runs in one-day internationals.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Domestic Career
Rajapaksa began his domestic cricket career with the Sinhalese Sports Club in Sri Lanka and has also played for the Barisal Blazers in Bangladesh’s NCL T20 Bangladesh. He was picked to Galle’s squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament in April 2018.
In August 2018, he was picked by Kandy’s SLC T20 League team. Bhanuka was also selected by Dambulla for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament in March 2019.
Rajapaksa hit 19 sixes and 22 boundaries in a career-high of 268 in 173 balls for BRC against Ports Authorities at Moors Grounds during the 2019 Premier League season. He was selected by the Galle Gladiators for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League in October 2020. Bhanuka was picked to the SLC Greys team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League event in August 2021. Following the players’ drought for the 2021 Lanka Premier League, he was selected to play for the Galle Gladiators in November 2021.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa International Career
Bhanukawas picked for Sri Lanka‘s Twenty20 International (T20I) team for the series against Pakistan in Pakistan in September 2019. On 5 October 2019, he made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka against Pakistan, scoring 32 runs off 22 balls in a 64-run victory. Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 35 runs in the second match, with Rajapaksa scoring 77 runs off 48 balls.
For his splendid batting performance, he was named player of the match. He was later named in Sri Lanka’s squad for their series against India in July 2021. He made his One Day International (ODI) debut for Sri Lanka versus India on July 18, 2021. Rajapaksa was picked by Sri Lanka’s team for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in September 2021.
Rajapaksa announced his international retirement at the age of 30 in a letter to the SLC on January 5, 2022, citing:”I have carefully evaluated my position as a player and husband, and I am making this decision in anticipation of fatherhood and the responsibilities that come with it,” However, at the request of the Sports Minister, he rescinded his resignation letter on January 13, 2022.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa IPL Career
He was purchased by the Punjab Kings in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League season in February 2022.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Career Batting Stats
Left-Handed Batsman
Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
ODI
2021– |
5 | 5 | 0 | 89 | 65 | 17.8 | 85 | 104.7 | 0 | 1 | 14 | 2 |
T20I
2019– |
18 | 15 | 3 | 320 | 77 | 26.7 | 235 | 136.2 | 0 | 2 | 25 | 18 |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Career Bowling Stats
Right-Arm Medium Bowler
Format | M | Inn | B | Mdn | Runs | W | BB | Econ | Avg | SR | 4W | 5W |
ODI
2021– |
5 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
T20I
2019– |
18 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Social media
Bhanuka Rajapaksa :Bhanuka Rajapaksa