Mumbai Indians sprung one of the surprises of the 2024 IPL auction, signing Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara for INR 4.8 crore despite his relative lack of international or high-level franchise experience.

Thushara, 29, has played just five T20Is for Sri Lanka having made his international debut in Sydney against Australia in early 2022. He has not played international cricket in either of the two other formats but does boast a superb career record in domestic T20 cricket, having taken 107 wickets at 17.74 with an economy rate only marginally above seven runs per over.

Thushara is the third-leading wicket-taker in the history of the Lanka Premier League; only Wanindu Hasaranga and Nuwan Pradeep – both established internationals – have more than Thushara’s 41 wickets in the competition.

The Sri Lanka speedster, whose slingy action has drawn comparisons to that of compatriot Lasith Malinga, rose in prominence after a standout 2023 Abu Dhabi T10. Thushara was part of the Deccan Gladiators side that finished runners-up to New York Strikers. He finished second on the tournament’s wicket-taking charts with 13 wickets from his 16 overs in the competition.

Thushara caught the eye not just with his slingy action but also the considerable swing he was able to impart on the ball. One particular spell did the rounds online as Thushara took 4-14 from his two overs against Northern Warriors with a video containing his dismissals of Kennar Lewis and Hazratullah Zazai – both clean bowled – generating over 17 million views on the Abu Dhabi T10 Instagram page.

Mumbai Indians splashed out on two other inexperienced seamers with Thushara’s fellow Sri Lanka seamer Dilshan Madushanka and South Africa quick Gerald Coetzee, both of whom enjoyed excellent World Cup campaigns, also signing with the franchise who are set to be under the new leadership of Hardik Pandya for the 2024 season.

You can watch Nuwan Thushara in action in the Abu Dhabi T10 below:

 

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