Kariyawasam Indipalage Charith Asalanka (born 29 June 1997) is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who currently serves as the captain of the national team in white-ball formats of T20I and ODI. He plays the limited overs formats of the game for the national team and is the 14th T20I captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team. An aggressive left-handed batsman and trusted batter in the number five middle order batting position, who bowls part time handy off spin. On pitches that favour spin, he has the potential to take useful wickets and contribute significantly as an all-rounder. Asalanka made his international debut for Sri Lanka in June 2021.
Early career
Asalanka toured England in 2013, opening the batting and top-scoring in each innings with 92 and 31 in a three-day match against an English under-17 team at Loughborough.[1] He opened the batting for his school, Richmond College, Galle in 2014–15, helping them into the final of the schools' twenty-20 competition.[2] He captained the national under-19 team against under-19 teams from Australia and Bangladesh in 2014–15. In the five-match limited-overs series against Bangladesh under-19, he was Sri Lanka's highest scorer, with 225 runs at an average of 45.00, and second-highest wicket-taker, with eight wickets at 21.00.[3] He was the most prominent figure in Sri Lanka's victory in the first match, with 4 for 36 and 63.[4] He was awarded Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in the years 2015 and 2016, becoming only the seventh player to win the award twice.[5] In 2016, he also became the 1st player to score a hundred in both the 2-day and one day matches of Lovers Quarrel.
Domestic career
Asalanka made his first-class debut in April 2015, in the match to decide who should take the final place in the Premier Trophy in the following season. His team, Galle, batted first and were all out for 31. Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club made 215 in reply. In their second innings Galle lost their first wicket in the second over, but Asalanka, batting at number three, hit 114 off 123 balls, and Galle totalled 295. Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club needed 112 to win, but Asalanka took 4 for 34 (Malith de Silva, also making his first-class debut, took 6 for 46) to dismiss them for 107, and Galle won by four runs.[6]
In March 2021, he captained Sinhalese Sports Club as they won the 2020–21 SLC Twenty20 Tournament, the first time they had won the tournament since 2005.[12]
On 24 March 2021, in the Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament, Asalanka scored a brilliant unbeaten century against Police Sports Club: 178 runs from 145 balls, with 16 boundaries and 5 sixes. Sinhalese Sports Club scored 339 runs and won the match by 31 runs.[13] On 1 April 2021, again in the Major Clubs Limited Over Tournament, Asalanka scored a match-winning century against Colts Cricket Club: 101 not out from 89 balls while chasing 278 runs, with a productive partnership with Avishka Fernando. Sinhalese Sports Club won by 8 wickets with 68 balls remaining.[13]
During the 4th match of the National Super League, while representing team Colombo Asalanka scored 13th List A half century against team Dambulla while chasing 143 runs. He also took two wickets while bowling. Finally, team Colombo won the match by 7 wickets.[16] In July 2022, he was signed by the Colombo Stars for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League.[17]
U19 captaincy
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, with a double-century and a century.[18] He also captained Sri Lanka in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.[19]
In June 2021, Asalanka was named in Sri Lanka's squad for their tour of England.[25][26] He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on 29 June 2021, for Sri Lanka against England.[27] In July 2021, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for their series against India.[28] On 19 July 2021, Asalanka scored his maiden ODI fifty against India.[29] He made his T20I debut on 25 July 2021, for Sri Lanka against India.[30]
In the first ODI against South Africa on 2 September 2021, Asalanka scored his second ODI half century. During the course, he put match winning partnership with Avishka Fernando.[31] Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 14 runs.[32] In the second ODI, he made another fifty in a losing course.[33] In the third ODI, Asalanka scored 47 runs and helped Sri Lanka to post a total of 203 runs in 50 overs. Later he took his first ODI wicket by dismissing Andile Phehlukwayo. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 78 runs and Asalanka won the player of the series award for his consistent batting performance as the highest run getter of the series.[34][35] Later the same month, Asalanka was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[36]
On 24 October 2021, Asalanka scored his maiden T20I half century against Bangladesh. While chasing 171 runs, he scored an unbeaten 80 runs from 49 deliveries hitting five boundaries and five sixes. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 5 wickets and Asalanka won the player of the match award for his performance.[37]
On 4 November 2021, against West Indies, Asalanka scored second T20I half century. He hit eight boundaries and one six while scoring 68 runs from 41 balls. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 20 runs and Asalanka won the player of the match award for his performance.[38] He is highest run scorer for Sri Lanka and 5th highest run scorer in T20 world cup 2021 scoring 231 runs in 6 matches with average of 46.20 hitting two half centuries.[39] In November 2021, he was named in Sri Lanka's Test squad for their series against the West Indies.[40] He made his Test debut, against the West Indies, on 29 November 2021.[41]
On 16 January 2022, in the first ODI against Zimbabwe, Asalanka scored his fourth ODI half century. While chasing down 297 runs he scored 71 runs from 68 balls hitting six fours and two sixes. Asalanka and Dinesh Chandimal put on a 132-run partnership. Sri Lanka won the match by 5 wickets.[42] On 3rd ODI match against Zimbabwe, Asalanka scored fifth ODI half century. He scored 52 runs from 56 deliveries. During that process, Asalanka scored 2000 List A runs. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 184 runs and won the series. Asalanka won the player of the match award for his performance.[43] On 21 June 2022, fourth ODI against Australia, Asalanka scored his maiden ODI century. He scored 110 runs from 106 balls hitting 10 boundaries and one six. His knock helped Sri Lanka score 258 runs and won the match by 4 runs and won the series. Asalanka won the player of the match award for his performance.[44]
On 30 November 2022, 3rd ODI against Afghanistan, Asalanka scored his sixth ODI half century. He scored unbeaten 83 runs hitting five boundaries and four sixes. Because of his knock Sri Lanka successfully chased down the target of 313 and Asalanka won the player of the match award for his performance.[45] On 2nd April 2023, first T20I match against New Zealand, Asalanka scored his 4th T20I half century. He scored 67 runs from 41 deliveries hitting two boundaries and six sixes. The match went to super over and Asalanka hit six and boundary to chase down the target and win the game. Due to his batting performance, Asalanka won the player of the match award. [46] On 27 of June 2023, against Scotland, Asalanka scored his 8th ODI half century. He scored 63 runs from 65 deliveries hitting four boundaries and two sixes. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 82 runs.[47]
On 31 August 2023, the first match of Asia cup against Bangladesh, Asalanka scored his 9th ODI half century. While chasing down the target of 164 runs, he scored an unbeaten 62 runs from 92 deliveries hitting five boundaries and one six. Finally, Sri Lanka won the match by 5 wickets.[48] In Sri Lanka's match against South Africa in the 2023 Cricket World Cup, Asalanka scored his 10th ODI half century and ended on 79 runs from 65 deliveries, hitting eight boundaries and four sixes. Despite his knock, Sri Lanka lost the match.[49] On 6 January 2024, during the first ODI match against Zimbabwe, Asalanka scored his third ODI century. Despite his knock, the match was abandoned due to heavy rain.[50]
Chamika Karunaratne was named as a reserve player. Chamika Karunaratne replaced the injured Dasun Shanaka. Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera were named as travelling reserves. Angelo Mathews and Dushmantha Chameera replaced the injured Matheesha Pathirana and Lahiru Kumara.
