Wanindu Hasaranga – A promising first-class record

A first-class batting average of 42.57 and bowling average of 27.46 puts Wanindu Hasaranga in the elite category of all-rounders in the Sri Lankan domestic circuit. Hasaranga has three first-class centuries and five five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket. He made an entry through age-group cricket, playing the Under-19 World Cup in 2016, primarily as a spinner.

Hasaranga finished the tournament with seven wickets including a 3-34 in the quarter-final against England, a spell that helped Sri Lanka reach the semi-final.

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The very same month, Hasaranga made an impressive entry into first-class cricket, smashing 87 with the bat on debut. He finished the 2016/17 season with 586 runs at an average of 39.06 including a century and three fifties. He was impressive with the ball too, picking up 15 wickets, including a five-wicket haul in the season.

His Test debut came in the Boxing Day Test against South Africa last month and he showcased his ability with bat and ball in his first appearance itself. A four-wicket haul — including scalps of Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock — was succeeded by a 53-ball 59 with the bat, even while struggling with a thigh injury he sustained earlier.

A hat-trick on ODI debut

In 2017, a 19-year-old Wanindu Hasaranga became the third bowler in ODI history to take a hat-trick on debut. In a game against Zimbabwe at Galle, Hasaranga wiped off the last three Zimbabwe wickets in three consecutive deliveries: so far, it’s the last ODI hat-trick taken by a leg-spinner.

Youngest to take hat-trick in ODIs

Aaqib Javed (19y and 81d)
Saqlain Mushtaq (19y and 310d)
Wanidu Hasaranga (19y and 338d today)#SLvZim— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) July 2, 2017

He had Malcolm Waller bowled off an inside edge in the first ball of his third over to take his maiden ODI wicket. Next ball, he unleashed a perfect wrong ‘un to trap Donald Tiripano in front. The hat-trick ball was similar to the previous one, a loopy googly that the No.11 batsman, Tendai Chatara, missed entirely. The ball crashed onto the stumps, giving way to wild celebrations among the Sri Lankan players.

Success in the Lanka Premier League

By the time the inaugural Lanka Premier League took place in 2020, Hasaranga had already made a mark as a fine all-rounder in the shortest format of the game. He had made an appearance in the Bangladesh Premier League, taken a five-wicket haul in a domestic T20 game, and played in five international T20I series.

No surprises here! The Player of The Tournament – Wanindu Hasaranga. 🔥🥇#JSvGG #LPLFinals #LPL2020 #එක්වජයගමූ #wintogether #ஒன்றாகவெல்வோம் pic.twitter.com/fNh3smA9A4

— LPL – Lanka Premier League (@LPLT20) December 16, 2020

But his massive impact came throughout the 2020 LPL season for the eventual champions, Jaffna Stallions. Hasaranga finished as the highest wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 10 games, averaging a stunning 11.29 while conceding runs at a miserly 5.18 runs per over. He also made handy contributions with the bat to make a good all-round impression and won the Player of the Tournament award for his spectacular showing.