Happy Birthday Wanindu Hasaranga! Celebrating Sri Lanka's Dynamic Leg-Spinner As Former Captain Turns 29
Celebrate Wanindu Hasaranga's 29th birthday, July 29, 2026. The Sri Lankan all-rounder, known for his leg-spin and explosive batting, made history with hat-tricks on his ODI debut and in the 2021 T20 World Cup. He led the wickets chart in the 2021 T20 World Cup and was Asia Cup 2022 Player of the Tournament.
Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, the dynamic Sri Lankan all-rounder, turns 29 today, July 29, 2026. From his humble beginnings in Galle, Hasaranga has rapidly ascended to become one of the most exciting and impactful players in world cricket, captivating fans with his wicket-taking ability and fearless approach with the bat. RCB Stays Most Valuable IPL Franchise at INR 2,983 Crore; Total League Value Hits INR 1.97 Lakh Crore: Report.
Early Promise and International Debut
Hasaranga's talent was evident from a young age, culminating in his international debut for Sri Lanka. He made an unforgettable entry into One Day International (ODI) cricket on July 2, 2017, against Zimbabwe, becoming the youngest bowler and only the third debutant in ODI history to claim a hat-trick. His T20 International (T20I) debut followed on September 1, 2019, against New Zealand, and he ventured into Test cricket on December 26, 2020, against South Africa.
T20 World Cup Heroics and Asia Cup Glory
The leg-spinner truly cemented his status as a global T20 superstar during the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, where he etched his name in history by becoming the first Sri Lankan to take a hat-trick in the tournament, achieved against South Africa on October 30, 2021. He finished that edition as the leading wicket-taker with an impressive 16 scalps, breaking Ajantha Mendis' record for most wickets in a single T20 World Cup.
His all-round brilliance shone brightly during Sri Lanka's victorious 2022 Asia Cup campaign, where his stellar performances earned him the prestigious Player of the Tournament award. Hasaranga's consistent excellence has also been recognised by the ICC, earning him spots in the ICC Men's ODI Team of the Year in 2021 and 2024, and the ICC Men's T20I Team of the Year in 2021, 2022 and 2024. In February 2024, he became the second-fastest bowler globally, after Rashid Khan, to reach 100 T20 International wickets, achieving the milestone in his 63rd match.
Franchise Cricket Impact
Beyond international duties, Hasaranga is a highly sought-after player in T20 leagues worldwide. He was named the Player of the Tournament in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2020, leading the Jaffna Stallions to glory with 17 wickets. In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he has represented Royal Challengers Bangalore (from 2021 to 2023) and Rajasthan Royals (in 2025). He was acquired by the Lucknow Super Giants for INR 2.00 crore for the 2026 season but was subsequently ruled out due to injury. His best IPL bowling figures of 5 wickets for 18 runs came against Sunrisers Hyderabad in May 2022. Shubman Gill Reclaims No 1 ODI Batter Ranking; Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Storms into ICC T20I Top 50 Rankings.
Career Snapshot
Here's a look at Wanindu Hasaranga's career statistics across formats:
| Format | Matches | Runs | Batting Average | Fifties | Wickets | Best Bowling |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 4 | 196 | 28.00 | 1 | 4 | 4/171 |
| ODIs | 71 | 1082 | 23.02 | 5 | 113 | 7/19 |
| T20Is | 107 | 831 | 12.22 | 2 | 161 | 4/9 |
| IPL | 37 | 81 | 5.40 | 0 | 46 | 5/18 |
As Wanindu Hasaranga celebrates his 29th birthday, his career continues to inspire, showcasing a rare blend of spin wizardry and batting firepower that makes him a true asset to any team. His journey is a testament to dedication and skill, promising many more thrilling performances for cricket enthusiasts globally.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 29, 2026 03:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
