Charith Asalanka is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer and the current ODI captain of the Sri Lanka national team. He is an aggressive left-handed batsman who usually bats at number five in ODIs and bowls part-time off-spin.
He made his first-class debut in April 2015 in a match that decided the final place in the next season’s Premier Trophy. He made his T20 debut for Sinhalese Sports Club on 1 March 2018 in the 2017–18 SLC Twenty20 Tournament. In March 2021, he captained Sinhalese Sports Club to win the 2020–21 SLC Twenty20 Tournament, their first title since 2005.
Asalanka captained Sri Lanka Under-19 in a two-match series against Pakistan Under-19 in October 2015, scoring 334 runs at an average of 167.00, including a double century and a century. He also led Sri Lanka in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
Charith Asalanka Records and Achievements
In September 2021, Charith Asalanka was the highest run-scorer in the ODI series against the South Africa national cricket team and won the Player of the Series award. He was later named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, where he scored 231 runs in six matches at an average of 46.20.
He scored his maiden T20I half-century (80* off 49 balls) against the Bangladesh national cricket team in October 2021 and another half-century against the West Indies national cricket team in November 2021, winning Player of the Match in both games.
In June 2022, Asalanka scored his maiden ODI century (110) against the Australia national cricket team and won Player of the Match as Sri Lanka secured the series. He also scored an unbeaten 83 against the Afghanistan national cricket team in November 2022 to chase 313 and won Player of the Match.
In 2023, he scored multiple ODI half-centuries, including 63 against the Scotland national cricket team and an unbeaten 62 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup. He scored 79 against South Africa in the 2023 Cricket World Cup and made his third ODI century against Zimbabwe on 6 January 2024.
Charith Asalanka Career Stats
In Tests, Charith Asalanka has played 3 matches and scored 88 runs. In ODIs, he has played 83 matches and scored 2734 runs, including 5 centuries and 17 fifties. In T20Is, he has played 74 matches and scored 1426 runs, with 6 fifties. In First-Class cricket, he has played 50 matches and scored 2417 runs, including 3 centuries and 16 fifties.
With the bowl, Asalanka has played 3 matches and taken 0 wickets. In ODIs, he has taken 18 wickets in 83 matches. His best bowling figures are 4/18, with 1 four-wicket haul. In T20Is, he has taken 7 wickets in 74 matches. His best figures are 3/50. In First-Class cricket, he has taken 45 wickets in 50 matches. His best figures are 6/112, with 2 four-wicket hauls, 1 five-wicket haul, and 1 ten-wicket match haul.
| Batting | ||||||
| Format | Mat | Runs | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
| Tests | 3 | 88 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 |
| ODIs | 83 | 2734 | 5 | 17 | 225 | 63 |
| T20Is | 74 | 1426 | 0 | 6 | 97 | 66 |
| FC | 50 | 2417 | 3 | 16 | 272 | 27 |
| Bowling | ||||||
| Format | Mat | Wkts | BBI | 4w | 5w | 10w |
| Tests | 3 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| ODIs | 83 | 18 | 4/18 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| T20Is | 74 | 7 | 3/50 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| FC | 50 | 45 | 6/112 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
Charith Asalanka’s Personal Life
Charith Asalanka was born on June 29. In 2022, he scored his first international hundred a week before his 25th birthday. He had earlier made his international debut on his birthday in 2021 in an ODI against England at Chester-Le-Street.
His father, Vijith Priyanth, is a businessman and his mother, Tanuja, is a housewife. He has a brother and a sister, and his younger brother Hiruk also plays cricket. His wife, Kavindika, who has known him for ten years, said the family was very happy with his maiden hundred.
His parents and siblings were present at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo when he scored his first international century. His first school coach, Dhanushka Denagama, supported his development and believes he can become a future team leader.
FAQs
Q. When did Charith Asalanka make his ODI debut?
A. Charith Asalanka made his ODI debut on 29 June 2021 against the England national cricket team.
Q. When did Charith Asalanka score his maiden ODI century?
A. Charith Asalanka scored 110 runs against the Australia national cricket team in June 2022.
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