Upul Tharanga

Warushavithana Upul Tharanga, popularly known as Upul Tharanga, is a Sri Lankan cricketer who played for the Sri Lankan national cricket team from 2005 to 2019. Tharanga is known for his explosive batting style, remarkable wicket-keeping skills, and excellent captaincy abilities. He is a left-handed opening batsman who can also keep wickets, and he has represented Sri Lanka in all three formats of international cricket.

Early and Domestic Career:

Upul Tharanga was born on 2nd February 1985 in Balapitiya, Sri Lanka. He was a natural athlete from a young age and showed great interest in cricket. Tharanga began playing cricket at the age of 15 and was soon noticed by local coaches for his batting abilities. In 2002, he made his first-class debut for the Sinhalese Sports Club and quickly established himself as a talented opener.

Tharanga's domestic career was marked by consistent performances, and he soon caught the eye of the national selectors. In 2004, he was selected for Sri Lanka's tour of Bangladesh but did not get a chance to play in the series. However, he continued to perform well domestically, scoring over 1,000 runs in the 2004-05 season, which earned him a spot in the national team.

International Career:

Upul Tharanga made his debut for Sri Lanka in an ODI against the West Indies in 2005. He made an immediate impact, scoring 31 runs in his debut innings. Tharanga's breakthrough performance came in the 2006 ICC Champions Trophy, where he scored two consecutive centuries and became the first Sri Lankan to achieve this feat in ODIs. He also played a key role in Sri Lanka's victory in the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, where he scored 120 runs in the final against Australia.

Tharanga's success continued in the following years, and he became a regular member of the Sri Lankan team. He was a part of the team that reached the final of the 2011 Cricket World Cup, where he scored a crucial 102 runs in the quarterfinals against England. Tharanga was also Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer in the 2012 Asia Cup and played a vital role in their victory in the tournament.

In addition to his batting skills, Tharanga is also an accomplished wicket-keeper. He took over the wicket-keeping duties from Kumar Sangakkara in 2010 and has since been a regular wicket-keeper for Sri Lanka in ODIs and T20Is. Tharanga's versatility as a player also saw him take on the captaincy role for Sri Lanka in several matches. He captained the team in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy and led them to the semifinals of the tournament.

Despite his impressive performances, Tharanga's international career had its ups and downs. He struggled to find form in the latter part of his career and was dropped from the Sri Lankan team in 2019. Tharanga played his last ODI for Sri Lanka against South Africa in March 2019 and his last T20I against India in January 2020.

Upul Tharanga, the former Sri Lankan cricketer, is known for his explosive batting style, excellent wicket-keeping skills, and remarkable captaincy abilities. Tharanga's leadership qualities were evident throughout his cricketing career, and he has captained the Sri Lankan team on several occasions.

Through the ranks:

Tharanga began his cricketing journey at a young age and quickly rose through the ranks. He made his debut for the Sinhalese Sports Club in 2002 and was soon noticed by the national selectors. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka in 2005 and established himself as a valuable member of the team.

Captaincy:

Tharanga's first stint as the captain of the Sri Lankan team came in 2008 when he was appointed the captain for the tour of Bangladesh. He led the team in three ODIs and won all three matches. In 2010, Tharanga was appointed the captain for Sri Lanka's tour of Zimbabwe, where he led the team to a 5-0 whitewash in the ODI series.

Tharanga's most significant stint as the captain came in 2017 when he was appointed as the captain of the Sri Lankan team for the ICC Champions Trophy. He led the team to the semifinals of the tournament, where they lost to eventual champions Pakistan. Tharanga's captaincy was praised for his calmness and strategic decision-making abilities.

Test career:

Tharanga's Test career was not as successful as his limited-overs career. He made his Test debut in 2005 but struggled to find form in the longest format of the game. Tharanga played 31 Test matches for Sri Lanka, scoring 1,475 runs at an average of 21.34. His only Test century came against Bangladesh in 2007.

Limited-overs comeback:

After being dropped from the Sri Lankan team in 2019, Tharanga made a comeback in limited-overs cricket in 2021. He was recalled to the Sri Lankan team for the ODI series against Bangladesh, where he played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's victory. Tharanga scored 75 runs in the first match of the series, which Sri Lanka won by 91 runs. He followed it up with a half-century in the second match, which helped Sri Lanka win the series 2-0.

Tharanga's comeback was praised by cricketing experts and fans alike. His performances in the series were a reminder of his talent and skill as a batsman. Tharanga's return to the Sri Lankan team was also significant because of his leadership qualities, which could benefit the team in the future.

In conclusion, Upul Tharanga is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who made a significant contribution to the Sri Lankan cricket team throughout his career. He was known for his explosive batting style, excellent wicket-keeping skills, and remarkable captaincy abilities. Tharanga's leadership qualities were evident throughout his cricketing career, and he has captained the Sri Lankan team on several occasions.

Tharanga's success in limited-overs cricket is well-documented, and he played a crucial role in many of Sri Lanka's victories. He was a reliable opener and had the ability to score runs quickly, making him a valuable asset to the Sri Lankan team. Tharanga's performances in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, where he led the Sri Lankan team to the semifinals, were a testament to his leadership skills.

Although Tharanga's Test career was not as successful as his limited-overs career, he still managed to contribute to the Sri Lankan team in the longest format of the game. His only Test century came against Bangladesh in 2007, and he played 31 Test matches for Sri Lanka.

Tharanga's recent limited-overs comeback in 2021 was a reminder of his talent and skill as a batsman. His performances in the ODI series against Bangladesh were exceptional, and his return to the Sri Lankan team could benefit the team in the future.

Overall, Upul Tharanga was a gifted cricketer who made a significant contribution to the Sri Lankan cricket team. His leadership abilities, explosive batting style, and excellent wicket-keeping skills made him one of Sri Lanka's greatest cricketers. Tharanga will be remembered for his achievements on the cricket field and his impact on Sri Lankan cricket.