Twenty-year-old left-arm fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka is the youngest player to make it to the Sri Lanka Team for the West Indies Tour. The former schoolboy of Hungama MV in Ambalantota is the latest sensation to steal the limelight following a successful domestic cricket season.
His talent and potential was initially spotted by the District Coach Manjula Karunaratne and he was later introduced to the Sri Lanka Fast Bowling Coach Chaminda Vaas. Madushanka started playing cricket from Under-15 level at school under the guidance of his first coach Illangaratne.
The school did not have a first eleven team but he had the chance to train with the District Team under the guidance of Coach Manjula Karunaratne, which was the turning point in his career.
It was during that time that Madushanka was asked to bowl at the Sri Lanka Under-19 Team players during practices in preparation for the series against the India Under-19 Team in 2019.
“I did not have the proper cricket equipment at that time and I think that was the turning point of my cricket career,” revealed Madushanka.
“I bowled very well at the nets and Fast Bowling Coach Chaminda Vaas was really impressed. He took my phone number and one day I got a surprise call from Vaas. He invited me to come for practices in Colombo.”
Madushanka experienced many difficulties during his school days. His father was a fisherman and did not like him playing cricket as it would neglect his studies.
“I am happy that now my father is watching a lot of cricket on television and he even comes to the ground to watch me playing,” said Madushanka.
“My father never expected that I would get a chance to represent the National side so soon.”
“If not for Vaas I wouldn’t have been here. He helped me a lot after Manjula Karunaratne, the District Coach who spotted me and gave me a chance.”
“I know that I have a long journey to travel and hope to get more experience to build up my cricketing career,” said Madushanka.
“I invited him to come for a District Coaching Camp and he got an opportunity to play in the Inter-District Tournament which was his first competition,” Coach Karunaratne told the Daily News. “He captured eight wickets with one five-wicket haul. This was a very impressive performance to go forward,” he added.
