Dunith Wellalage is a Sri Lankan cricketer who became viral following his 5-wicket haul against India in the 2023 Asia Cup. He captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 team in the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Wiki/Biography
Dunith Nethmika Wellalage was born on Thursday, 9 January 2003 (age 20 years; as of 2023) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. His zodiac sign is Capricorn. He initially attended St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa for his schooling and later attended St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. [1]Instagram – Shermantha Fernando He got interested in playing cricket after seeing his father’s trophies in his childhood and later played for his school teams. He received his cricket training from different coaches including Suranga Perera, Roger Wijesuriya, and Dilan Ramanayake. He later became a professional cricketer.
Dunith Wellalage (centre) during his school days
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 6″
Weight (approx.): 65 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
He belongs to a middle-class family.
Parents & Siblings
His father’s name is Suranga Niroshan Wellalage who is a cricketer and businessman, and his mother’s name is Harshani Kanchana Wellalage who is a homemaker.
Dunith Wellalage with his father, Suranga Niroshan Wellalage, and mother, Harshani Kanchana Wellalage
He has two younger brothers named Pulina Senath Wellalage who plays badminton and Chamath Chithira Wellalage who also plays cricket.
Dunith Wellalage with his younger brother, Pulina Senath Wellalage (right) and youngest brother, Chamath Chithira Wellalage (left)
Wife & Children
He is unmarried and does not have any children.
Relationships/Affairs
His girlfriend’s name is Deanne De Silva who is a marketing student. [2]Instagram – Deanne Destiny
Dunith Wellalage with his girlfriend, Deanne De Silva
Dunith Wellalage’s girlfriend, Deanne De Silva
Career
Domestic
Wellalage played for St. Sebastian’s Under-13, St. Sebastian’s Under-15, St. Joseph’s Under-15, and St. Joseph’s Under-19 teams during his school years and gave many good performances. He made his first-class debut on 9 May 2019 for Lankan Cricket Club against Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club and took 5 wickets in the match.
Dunith Wellalage during a first-class match
He made his List A debut on 14 December 2019 for Lankan Cricket Club against Sinhalese Sports Club and took 1 wicket in the match. He took 8 wickets for 152 runs in a first-class match. He claimed 5 wickets for 21 runs in a List A match.
Dunith Wellalage (left) after winning the Player of the Match in the National Super League 2022
International
Under-19
Wellalage captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 team in the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He took two 5-wicket hauls in the tournament and finished as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets and the highest run scorer for his team with 264 runs. He also shone with the bat by scoring 113 runs in the playoff semifinal match against South Africa.
Dunith Wellalage (left) during a practice session before the 2022 Under-19 World Cup
Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI & Sri Lanka A
He played for the Sri Lanka Emerging Team (also known as Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI) on their tour to England in April 2022. On 25 May 2022, he made his T20 debut against Surrey; he scored 1 run and conceded 14 runs without any wicket. He also played for Sri Lanka A during the series against Australia A in 2022.
Test
He made his test debut on 24 July 2022 against Pakistan; he conceded 35 runs without taking any wicket and scored 11 runs in the first innings and 18 runs in the second innings in the match.
ODI
He made his ODI debut on 14 June 2022 against Australia; he took 2 wickets for 49 runs in the match.
Dunith Wellalage (right) being given his ODI cap by Wanindu Hasaranga on his ODI debut
He finished the 5-match series against Australia in 2022 as the leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets.
On 12 September 2023, during the Super-4 match against India, he claimed his maiden 5-wicket haul with 5 wickets for 40 runs and also scored 42 runs not out in the match; he won his first Man of the Match award for his performance.
Dunith Wellalage (left) with his first ODI Man of the Match award
Franchise Leagues
Lanka Premier League
In the 3rd edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2022, Wellalage was acquired by Jaffna Kings in the Diamond B group ($ 25,000; approx LKR 9 million).
Dunith Wellalage in Jaffna Kings jersey
Jersey Number
Wellagae wears jersey number 1 for Sri Lanka.
Dunith Wellalage jersey number 1
Records
- First Sri Lankan captain to score a century in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup (in 2022)
- Youngest cricketer to win a Man of the Match award in the Lankan Premier League (LPL) (in 2023)
Awards, Honours, Achievements
- Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Best Bowler of the Year, and Best Allrounder of the Year awards at Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Awards in 2021
Dunith Wellalage (left) with Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Best Bowler of the Year, and Best Allrounder of the Year awards
- Named in the ICC Most Valuable Team of the 2022 Under 19 Men’s Cricket World Cup
Facts/Trivia
- Wellalage is a bowling allrounder. His batting style is left-handed, and his bowling style is slow left-arm orthodox.
- In June 2023, he signed up with the management company, Field Power Sports. He is also signed to KG Cricket which provides him with all the cricket accessories.
Dunith Wellalage (left) after signing with Field Power Sports Management Company
- His favourite cricketers growing up were Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando.
- After getting his first ODI Man of the Match award in the 2023 Asia Cup against India, he touched Virat Kohli’s feet and later said that Kohli was like a god to him.
References
