Dimuth Karunaratne

Dimuth Karunaratne is a Sri Lankan cricketer who is known for his aggressive and dynamic batting style. Born on April 21, 1988, in Colombo, Karunaratne started his cricketing journey at a young age and quickly rose to fame due to his natural talent and hard work. Over the years, he has established himself as a key player in the Sri Lankan national cricket team and is regarded as one of the best openers in the world.

Personal Life:

Karunaratne comes from a middle-class family and was raised in Colombo. His father is an industrialist, while his mother is a homemaker. He has two younger brothers, who are also involved in cricket. Karunaratne is married to Dinesha Chandimal and has a daughter named Kavindya Karunaratne.

Apart from cricket, Karunaratne is a keen traveler and loves to explore new places. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends and is known for his affable nature. Karunaratne is a devout Buddhist and often visits temples to seek blessings and guidance.

Domestic Career:

Karunaratne started playing cricket at a young age and quickly made a name for himself in the domestic circuit. He played for Sinhalese Sports Club in the Premier League Tournament and was one of the top run-scorers in the tournament. His consistent performances earned him a spot in the Sri Lankan national cricket team.

Karunaratne made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in 2012 against New Zealand and scored a century in his first Test match. Since then, he has been a regular member of the Sri Lankan cricket team and has played over 40 Test matches. He has scored over 3,000 runs in Test cricket at an average of 35.76, including 10 centuries and 14 half-centuries.

Karunaratne's success in Test cricket led to his inclusion in the Sri Lankan One Day International (ODI) team in 2013. He made his ODI debut against Australia and scored his maiden ODI century against the same team in 2016. However, he has not been as successful in the ODI format as he has been in Test cricket, scoring only 2 centuries and 15 half-centuries in 92 matches.

Karunaratne is also a regular player in the Sri Lankan T20 team and has played in several domestic T20 leagues around the world. He has represented teams like the Melbourne Renegades in the Big Bash League, Hampshire in the Vitality Blast, and Multan Sultans in the Pakistan Super League.

Karunaratne's success in domestic cricket and the Sri Lankan national team has earned him several awards and accolades. He was named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2019 and was also named the Test captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team in the same year.

Dimuth Karunaratne has had a remarkable career in cricket so far, and his captaincy of the Sri Lankan cricket team is another feather in his cap. Known for his aggressive and dynamic batting style, Karunaratne has emerged as one of the best openers in the world, and his leadership skills have been instrumental in shaping the Sri Lankan cricket team.

Captaincy:

Karunaratne was appointed as the Test captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team in 2019. He took over the captaincy from Dinesh Chandimal, who had been struggling with form and fitness. Karunaratne's appointment as the captain came as a surprise to many, as he had never captained a team before at the international level. However, his calm and composed demeanor, coupled with his excellent cricketing knowledge, made him the perfect candidate for the job.

Under Karunaratne's captaincy, Sri Lanka has had mixed results in Test cricket. While they have won some crucial matches, they have also suffered some heavy defeats. However, Karunaratne's leadership has been instrumental in shaping the team's mindset and has instilled a sense of belief and confidence in the players.

Permanent opening in Tests:

Karunaratne's captaincy has also seen him establish himself as a permanent opener in Test cricket for Sri Lanka. He had previously opened the batting for the team, but his position was not always secure. However, as captain, he has cemented his place as the team's opener, and his consistent performances at the top of the order have been crucial in Sri Lanka's success.

Karunaratne has a solid technique and is excellent at playing the new ball. He has a knack for playing long innings and is known for his patience and discipline. His opening partnerships with Lahiru Thirimanne have been key to Sri Lanka's success in Test cricket, and the duo has provided a solid foundation for the middle-order to build on.

Blow to the head in 2019:

In 2019, Karunaratne suffered a blow to the head during a Test match against New Zealand. He was hit by a bouncer from Neil Wagner and had to be taken off the field on a stretcher. The incident was a scary one, and there were concerns about the extent of Karunaratne's injuries.

Thankfully, Karunaratne was not seriously injured and was able to recover quickly. He returned to the Sri Lankan team for their next Test series and continued to perform at the top level. The incident, however, highlighted the dangers of fast bowling and the need for players to wear protective gear while playing.

In conclusion, Dimuth Karunaratne is an exceptional cricketer who has made a significant contribution to Sri Lankan cricket. He is known for his aggressive and dynamic batting style, and his ability to play the new ball with ease has been a major asset for Sri Lanka in Test cricket.

Karunaratne's captaincy of the Sri Lankan cricket team has been a success so far. He has instilled a sense of belief and confidence in the players, and his calm and composed demeanor, coupled with his excellent cricketing knowledge, has been instrumental in shaping the team's mindset.

Despite suffering a blow to the head in 2019, Karunaratne has continued to perform at the top level, and his consistency and patience have been key to Sri Lanka's success in Test cricket. His opening partnerships with Lahiru Thirimanne have been crucial, and the duo has provided a solid foundation for the middle order to build on.

Overall, Karunaratne is an exceptional cricketer and a true asset to the Sri Lankan cricket team. He has a long way to go in his career, and one can expect him to achieve even greater heights in the future.