Wanindu Hasaranga is the most complete T20 cricketer Sri Lanka has produced since the days of Sanath Jayasuriya. Born on July 29, 1997, in Galle, Sri Lanka, this 29-year-old leg-spinning all-rounder has taken over 150 T20 International wickets, led Sri Lanka to the 2022 Asia Cup title, and become one of the most in-demand T20 players in global franchise cricket. His career is built on an astonishing debut hat-trick, the most wickets at a T20 World Cup in a single edition, and a journey from fast bowler to the world’s top-ranked T20I spinner. This is the full story.
Who Is Wanindu Hasaranga? Full Profile
Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva is known in cricket circles simply as Hasaranga; he is a right-handed batting all-rounder who bowls right-arm leg-break. He represents Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is, plays for Colombo in domestic cricket, and has turned out for multiple IPL franchises including Royal Challengers Bangalore, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Lucknow Super Giants.
His brother Chaturanga de Silva is also a cricketer, which speaks to the sporting environment Hasaranga grew up in. He started his career as a frontline seam bowler at Richmond College, Galle, where he opened the bowling before a coach named Lanka de Silva changed everything.
Lanka de Silva demonstrated leg-spin to his young student and identified that Hasaranga’s exceptional arm speed made him an ideal candidate for wrist-spin. At 17, Hasaranga made the conversion. In his very first age-group 50-over local tournament after switching to leg-spin, he took 28 wickets in just six matches. That number tells you everything about how naturally the change came to him.
Wanindu Hasaranga: Quick Facts
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva |
| Date of Birth | 29 July 1997 |
| Age | 28 years |
| Birthplace | Galle, Sri Lanka |
| Height | 5 feet 9 inches (approximately 180 cm) |
| Batting Style | Right-handed |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm leg-break (leg-spin) |
| Role | All-rounder |
| ODI Shirt Number | 49 |
| T20I Shirt Number | 49 |
| Current International Team | Sri Lanka |
| Current IPL Team | Lucknow Super Giants (IPL 2026, signed for INR 2 crore) |
| Wife | Vindya Padmaperuma (married March 9, 2023) |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Brother | Chaturanga de Silva (also a cricketer) |
| School | Richmond College, Galle |
Wanindu Hasaranga’s Early Life and Career Beginnings
Hasaranga grew up in Galle, a city with deep cricket culture on the southern coast of Sri Lanka. He attended Richmond College, Galle, where at 16 years old he was already opening the bowling as a seam bowler. His pace was useful but not remarkable. What was remarkable was his arm speed — and his coach noticed it first.
Lanka de Silva, his coach at the time, recognised that Hasaranga’s natural arm speed gave him the ability to rip the ball sharply off the pitch with proper wrist-spin. He introduced his young student to leg-spin and the conversion was immediate. Within a year of switching from pace to spin, Hasaranga had 28 wickets in six matches in local age-group cricket. He also attended a pace-to-spin bowling transformation workshop during this period, which further accelerated his development.
His List A debut came on November 30, 2015, in the AIA Premier Limited Over Tournament. His first-class debut followed on February 26, 2016, for Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club in the 2015-16 Premier League Tournament. By the time he earned his U-19 World Cup call-up in December 2015, he was already one of the most exciting young cricketers in Sri Lankan domestic cricket.
At the 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh, Hasaranga took seven wickets in the tournament, including a match-winning 3 for 34 against England in the quarter-final that helped Sri Lanka reach the semi-final stage. He had just turned 18.
International Career: How Every Debut Was Historic
Wanindu Hasaranga’s international career did not begin quietly. It announced itself with a hat-trick on debut, a record-breaking T20I career, and consistent performance at every major tournament.
The ODI Debut Hat-Trick (July 2, 2017)
Hasaranga made his ODI debut for Sri Lanka against Zimbabwe at Galle on July 2, 2017. On debut, he dismissed the final three Zimbabwe wickets in consecutive deliveries to become the youngest bowler ever to take a hat-trick on an ODI debut. He was also the third debutant in ODI history to claim a hat-trick, after Bangladesh’s Taijul Islam and South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada. Most significantly for cricket history, he became the first leg-spinner ever to take a hat-trick in ODI cricket.
The date joined — July 2, 2017 — is when Wanindu Hasaranga’s international career officially began, and it began in a way no other leg-spinner in ODI history had ever managed.
T20I Debut (September 1, 2019)
His T20I debut came two years later, against New Zealand in Pallekele on September 1, 2019. He took time to establish himself in the shortest format at international level, but when he did, the results were transformative.
Within weeks of his T20I debut, he was Sri Lanka’s key weapon in their T20I series against Pakistan in October 2019. With many of Sri Lanka’s senior players withdrawing due to security concerns, Hasaranga stepped up as the only specialist spinner. He took eight wickets in the three-match series as Sri Lanka won 3-0 — their first-ever bilateral T20I series win against Pakistan and the first time Pakistan had been whitewashed in a three-match T20I series. He won Player of the Series.
Test Debut (December 26, 2020)
Hasaranga made his Test debut against South Africa in Centurion on December 26, 2020. He took four wickets in the match for 171 runs across both innings and scored 18 in the first innings and 59 in the second — his maiden Test fifty on debut. Sri Lanka lost the Test match, but Hasaranga’s performance announced a player capable of contributing in all three formats.
His last Test match came in April 2021 against Bangladesh at Pallekele, where he scored 43 runs off 55 balls. He has played just four Tests in total and his Test career is effectively on hold, with Sri Lanka using him primarily in white-ball cricket.
Test Career Stats
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| Tests played | 4 |
| Runs scored | 196 |
| Test batting average | 28 |
| Fours | 29 |
| Sixes | 1 |
| Wickets | 4 |
| Best bowling | 4 for 171 (2 innings) |
The 2021 T20 World Cup: Where Hasaranga Became a Global Star
The 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the UAE was Wanindu Hasaranga’s defining moment on the world stage.
He finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 16 wickets across the competition. This broke the previous record for most wickets in a single edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, held by his compatriot Ajantha Mendis. Of the 16 wickets, 10 came in the Super 12 stage alone.
During the same tournament, on October 30, 2021, against South Africa, Hasaranga became the first bowler ever to take a hat-trick for Sri Lanka in a T20 World Cup match. That made him the first cricketer in history to take hat-tricks in both ODI and T20 World Cup cricket.
On November 1, 2021, against England in the same tournament, he took his 50th wicket in T20I cricket.
By November 2021, he had reached No. 1 in the ICC T20I bowling rankings — becoming only the second Sri Lankan after Ajantha Mendis to top that list. He also equalised with South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi to become joint-leading wicket-taker in T20I cricket across all matches in the 2021 calendar year, with both taking 36 T20I dismissals in that single year.
The ICC named him in both the ODI and T20I Teams of the Year for 2021. ESPNcricinfo included him in their T20 World Cup Team of the Tournament. At 24 years old, he had become the best T20I spinner in the world.
The 2022 Asia Cup: All-Round Heroics for a Champion Sri Lanka
If 2021 was about Hasaranga establishing his reputation, 2022 was about him delivering on the biggest stage when it mattered most.
At the 2022 Asia Cup in the UAE, Sri Lanka faced Pakistan in the Super 4 stage. Hasaranga took 3 for 21 and Pakistan were bowled out for 121. Sri Lanka won by five wickets and Hasaranga won Man of the Match.
In the final against Pakistan, Sri Lanka were in trouble — 58 for 5 in 8.5 overs. Hasaranga and Bhanuka Rajapaksa put on a match-winning partnership of 58 runs to help Sri Lanka post 170. Sri Lanka won the match and claimed their sixth Asia Cup title. Hasaranga was named Player of the Tournament for his all-round performances. His final figures of 36 runs and 3 for 27 in that final made him only the second player after West Indies’ Carlos Brathwaite to score 30-plus runs and take three-plus wickets in a men’s T20I knockout between two Full-Member nations.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s T20I Career: The Records That Define Him
Hasaranga is the second-fastest bowler in T20I history to reach 100 wickets, behind only Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. He reached the milestone in February 2024 against Afghanistan in Dambulla, in his second T20I against that opposition.
His bowling style is built around several key variations: the standard leg-break, the googly (wrong’un), a top-spinner that skids on, and a flipper. His arm speed — the quality his coach identified at 16 — generates deceptive pace through the air and sharp turn off the surface. Batters find him difficult to read because the hand position looks the same across variations until the ball arrives.
He generates early drift before the pitch and sharp turn or skid after it, which gives him the ability to beat batters both in the air and off the surface. His control in T20 cricket is exceptional — he rarely gives away free balls, which forces batters to take risks against him rather than waiting him out.
Wanindu Hasaranga T20I Career Stats
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| T20I matches | 80+ |
| T20I wickets | 150+ |
| Best T20I figures | 4/9 (vs India, July 29, 2021 — on his birthday) |
| T20I bowling average | ~14 |
| T20I economy rate | ~6.5 |
| T20I batting runs | 900+ |
| T20I highest score | 71 not out |
| ICC T20I ranking (career best) | No. 1 (November 2021) |
| Hat-tricks in T20Is | 1 (T20 World Cup 2021 vs South Africa) |
His 4 for 9 against India on July 29, 2021 — his birthday — broke Imran Tahir’s record for the best-ever bowling spell in a T20I match on a birthday. Sri Lanka won that match and he was named Player of the Match and Player of the Series.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s ODI Career: Records and Best Performances
Hasaranga has played over 50 ODIs for Sri Lanka, contributing with both bat and ball. His ODI batting average is around 23, and he has scored over 900 ODI runs, which places him among the more useful lower-middle-order options Sri Lanka have had.
His maiden ODI fifty came on March 14, 2021, against West Indies — an unbeaten 80 off 60 balls. This also set the record as the highest individual score for a Sri Lanka batter batting at No. 8 or lower, surpassing the previous record held by Nuwan Kulasekara. He and Ashen Bandara put on an unbeaten 123-run seventh-wicket stand in the same match.
In June 2023, during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier against UAE, he took 6 for 24 — his first six-wicket haul in ODI cricket. This helped Sri Lanka qualify for the 2023 ODI World Cup. The tournament itself, however, was taken away from him by a hamstring injury that ruled him out before it began.
Wanindu Hasaranga ODI Career Stats
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| ODI matches | 60+ |
| ODI runs | 900+ |
| ODI batting average | ~23 |
| ODI highest score | 80 not out (vs West Indies, March 2021) |
| ODI wickets | 70+ |
| Best ODI figures | 6/24 (vs UAE, World Cup Qualifier, June 2023) |
| Hat-tricks | 1 (debut, vs Zimbabwe, July 2017) |
Wanindu Hasaranga’s IPL Career: From INR 50 Lakh to INR 10.75 Crore
The IPL has been the defining franchise stage of Hasaranga’s career. His journey through four different franchises tells the story of how franchise cricket values, and sometimes misjudges, elite talent.
IPL 2021: RCB Entry as Replacement (INR 50 Lakh)
Hasaranga was included in the Royal Challengers Bangalore squad for the second phase of the 2021 IPL in the UAE, as a replacement player for INR 50 lakh. He made his IPL debut on September 20, 2021, against Kolkata Knight Riders. The wanindu hasaranga ipl 2021 team was RCB.
IPL 2022: Record Price for a Sri Lankan (INR 10.75 Crore)
At the 2022 IPL Mega Auction, RCB retained Hasaranga for INR 10.75 crore after a fierce bidding war — making him the most expensive Sri Lankan player in IPL history at the time. He justified the price immediately.
In 2022, he took 26 wickets across the tournament, which became his best IPL season by wickets. His best performance that year was 5 for 18 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai — the best bowling figures ever recorded at the Wankhede Stadium in IPL history. This 5/18 remains his best bowling figures in an IPL match.
So the answer to wanindu hasaranga in rcb — he played for RCB from 2021 to 2023, and those were his best IPL seasons.
IPL 2024: Signed by SRH at Base Price (INR 1.5 Crore)
Before the 2024 IPL, RCB released Hasaranga. He was signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 1.5 crore. However, chronic heel pain in his left foot forced him to miss the entire 2024 IPL season, making it one of the more unfortunate chapters of his franchise career.
IPL 2025: Rajasthan Royals (INR 5.25 Crore)
At the 2025 IPL auction, Rajasthan Royals acquired Hasaranga for INR 5.25 crore. He played 11 matches and took 11 wickets with an economy of 9.05. His best figures in that campaign were 4 for 35.
Wanindu Hasaranga IPL 2026: Lucknow Super Giants (INR 2 Crore)
At the IPL 2026 auction, Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) picked Hasaranga for INR 2 crore. He was described by LSG’s analysts as the primary spin threat in their bowling attack, deployed primarily in the middle overs between the 8th and 14th overs.
However, Hasaranga suffered a hamstring injury in Sri Lanka’s opening game of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. As a result, he was ruled out of IPL 2026. LSG signed South Africa’s George Linde as his replacement. This was another injury setback in an IPL career that has often been interrupted by fitness concerns.
Wanindu Hasaranga IPL Career Stats Summary
| Stat | Number |
|---|---|
| IPL matches | 37 |
| IPL wickets | 46 |
| Best IPL figures | 5/18 (vs SRH, Wankhede, 2022) |
| IPL bowling average | 24.32 |
| IPL economy rate | 8.41 |
| IPL runs | 81 |
| IPL highest score | 18 |
| Franchises | RCB (2021-2023), SRH (2024, injured), RR (2025), LSG (2026, injured) |
Wanindu Hasaranga’s Best Bowling Figures and Career Highlights
His wanindu hasaranga best bowling figures in T20Is are 4/9 against India on his birthday (July 29, 2021). This also stands as one of the best bowling performances in the history of bilateral T20I cricket by any spinner.
In IPL cricket, his best bowling figures are 5/18 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede in May 2022 — the best ever figures at that ground in IPL history.
In ODI cricket, his best bowling figures are 6/24 against UAE in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier in June 2023.
Career Records at a Glance
| Record | Achievement |
|---|---|
| First ODI hat-trick by a leg-spinner | July 2, 2017 vs Zimbabwe |
| Youngest to take hat-trick on ODI debut | July 2, 2017 |
| Most wickets in single T20 WC edition | 16 wickets (2021 T20 World Cup) |
| First Sri Lankan T20 WC hat-trick | October 30, 2021 vs South Africa |
| No. 1 ICC T20I bowler | November 2021 |
| 2nd fastest to 100 T20I wickets | February 2024 (behind Rashid Khan) |
| Best birthday bowling in T20I history | 4/9 vs India, July 29, 2021 |
| Best IPL bowling at Wankhede | 5/18 vs SRH, May 2022 |
| Best ODI figures | 6/24 vs UAE, June 2023 |
| 2022 Asia Cup Player of the Tournament | September 2022 |
| 2021 ICC T20I Team of the Year | January 2022 |
| 2022 ICC T20I Team of the Year | January 2023 |
Wanindu Hasaranga as Sri Lanka T20I Captain
Hasaranga was appointed Sri Lanka’s T20I captain, a recognition of his leadership qualities and his stature within the team. He led Sri Lanka into the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup — a campaign that ended in disappointment, with Sri Lanka failing to progress past the group stage. He had been struggling with heel pain through this period.
His captaincy record reflects the challenges of leading a rebuilding Sri Lanka side in the shortest format, but his elevation to the role confirmed what the Sri Lanka Cricket board had long believed: Hasaranga is the most important cricketer in their white-ball setup.
In the absar ahmed asia cup context — Hasaranga’s performances against Pakistan across multiple Asia Cup editions have been among the most discussed in the competition’s T20 history, including his 3 for 21 in the Super 4 stage and 3 for 27 in the final at the 2022 edition.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s Franchise Career Beyond the IPL
Hasaranga’s franchise career extends well beyond the IPL. He has been one of the most sought-after T20 specialists globally since 2021.
Lanka Premier League: He won the Player of the Tournament award in the inaugural 2020 LPL, playing for Jaffna Stallions where he took 17 wickets. He later played for Jaffna Kings (2021) and Kandy Falcons / Kandy Royals (2022 onwards).
The Hundred: He played for Manchester Originals in the 2022 edition of The Hundred in England.
International League T20 (Dubai): He has played for Desert Vipers in the ILT20, finishing third in the wicket-taking charts with 9 wickets in 2023.
Major League Cricket (USA): He signed with Washington Freedom for the 2023 MLC season.
PSL: He was signed by Quetta Gladiators for the 2023 PSL season.
CPL: He has represented St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
This breadth of franchise cricket experience across five or six leagues per year makes Hasaranga one of the most played-out T20 specialists on the planet — which also explains why injuries, particularly hamstring and heel issues, have accumulated over the years.
Wanindu Hasaranga: Personal Life, Wife, and Family
Wanindu Hasaranga married Vindya Padmaperuma on March 9, 2023, in a private ceremony at Water’s Edge Hotel in Battaramulla, Sri Lanka. The couple announced their wedding through social media photographs. Vindya is not active on public social media platforms, so limited details about her personal life are publicly available.
Sources differ on whether they have children. Sportsdunia and journalbharat both state the couple have two children, while other earlier sources say no children are confirmed. Given the recency of the marriage and the limited information available, we do not confirm a specific number.
Hasaranga follows Buddhism — the dominant faith in Sri Lanka — and has spoken about how it shapes his approach to high-pressure situations on the field.
His brother Chaturanga de Silva is also a cricketer, which reflects the sporting environment at home that shaped Hasaranga’s early love of the game.
What Happened to Wanindu Hasaranga? The Injury Story
Hasaranga’s career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries. The most significant ones are:
2023 ODI World Cup: A hamstring injury ruled him out of the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India shortly after he was a key part of Sri Lanka’s qualification. He had been the standout bowler in the qualifier, taking 6 for 24 against UAE, and his absence from the main tournament was a massive blow to Sri Lanka.
2024 IPL (SRH): Chronic heel pain in his left foot forced him to miss the entire 2024 IPL season despite being signed by Sunrisers Hyderabad.
2026 T20 World Cup and IPL 2026: A hamstring injury sustained in Sri Lanka’s opening game of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup ruled him out of IPL 2026 for Lucknow Super Giants, who signed South Africa’s George Linde as his replacement.
These repeated fitness issues have become the main concern around what is otherwise a career on a remarkable upward trajectory. When fit, Hasaranga is among the best T20 spinners in the world. The challenge for Sri Lanka Cricket and for Hasaranga personally is managing his workload across a global franchise schedule that would challenge any athlete’s body.
ICC Rankings: Where Does Hasaranga Stand?
Hasaranga’s career-best ICC T20I bowling ranking is No. 1, which he achieved in November 2021 following the T20 World Cup. He became only the second Sri Lankan to top that ranking, after Ajantha Mendis.
When fully fit, he consistently operates in the top five of the ICC T20I bowling rankings. His ICC T20I all-rounder ranking has also reached as high as third, reflecting his contribution with the bat as well.
In ODI cricket, his ranking is lower — reflecting the fewer matches he has played in the format and the more competitive nature of ODI bowling rankings given the depth of quality globally.
FAQ: Wanindu Hasaranga
How old is Wanindu Hasaranga?
Wanindu Hasaranga was born on July 29, 1997, in Galle, Sri Lanka. He is 29 years old as of July 2026.
What is Hasaranga’s ranking in ICC?
Wanindu Hasaranga’s career-best ICC T20I bowling ranking is No. 1, which he achieved in November 2021 following the T20 World Cup.
Has Hasaranga played for RCB?
Yes. Wanindu Hasaranga played for Royal Challengers Bangalore from 2021 to 2023.
What is Wanindu Hasaranga’s best performance?
Hasaranga’s best bowling performance in T20Is is 4 for 9 against India on his birthday, July 29, 2021 — the best birthday bowling spell in T20I history by any bowler. In IPL cricket, his best figures are 5 for 18 against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Wankhede Stadium in 2022, which remains the best bowling figures ever recorded at that ground in IPL history. In ODIs, his best figures are 6 for 24 against UAE in the 2023 World Cup Qualifier in June 2023.
What is Hasaranga known for?
Hasaranga is known for three things above all else: taking a hat-trick on his ODI debut in 2017 (the first leg-spinner to take a hat-trick in ODI history), taking the most wickets at a single T20 World Cup edition (16 wickets at the 2021 T20 World Cup, breaking Ajantha Mendis’ record), and reaching No. 1 in the ICC T20I bowling rankings in November 2021. He is also known for winning Sri Lanka the 2022 Asia Cup with an all-round performance in the final against Pakistan.
What happened to Wanindu Hasaranga?
Hasaranga has suffered repeated injuries across his career. He missed the 2023 ODI World Cup with a hamstring injury despite being Sri Lanka’s leading bowler in the qualifier. He missed the entire 2024 IPL season (SRH) due to chronic heel pain in his left foot. Most recently, a hamstring injury in Sri Lanka’s opening game of the 2026 T20 World Cup ruled him out of IPL 2026 for Lucknow Super Giants, who signed South Africa’s George Linde as his replacement.
Is Hasaranga playing T20 WC?
Hasaranga was named captain of Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup, but the team failed to progress past the group stage. At the 2026 T20 World Cup, he was included in Sri Lanka’s squad but suffered a hamstring injury in the team’s opening match that ruled him out of the remainder of the tournament and subsequently from IPL 2026 with Lucknow Super Giants.
Who will replace Wanindu Hasaranga?
For IPL 2026, George Linde of South Africa was signed by Lucknow Super Giants as Hasaranga’s replacement after the hamstring injury. For Sri Lanka’s national team, Maheesh Theekshana has been the primary spin bowling option when Hasaranga is unavailable. Jeffrey Vandersay also provides leg-spin cover in the Sri Lanka squad. However, nobody in Sri Lanka’s current setup matches Hasaranga’s combination of wicket-taking ability and lower-order batting.
Final Thoughts: Why Wanindu Hasaranga Matters
Sri Lankan cricket has produced many great spinners, such as Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, and Rangana Herath. Hasaranga is a different kind of spinner from any of them. He bowls in conditions that favor batters. He operates in the most batsman-friendly format ever invented. And he still takes wickets at a rate that almost no leg-spinner in history has matched across a T20I career.
He took 16 wickets at the 2021 T20 World Cup. He won the 2022 Asia Cup. He reached No. 1 in the ICC T20I rankings. He took hat-tricks in both ODI and T20 World Cup cricket. He did all of this while also being useful enough with the bat at number seven or eight to change the course of a low-scoring game.
When he is fit, Wanindu Hasaranga is the most complete T20 cricketer Sri Lanka has produced since the game’s modern era began. His injury record in recent years is the one thing standing between him and an even more remarkable career.
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