Sri Lanka’s preparation for the T20I series against India has hit a major snag with the injury of right-arm pacer Nuwan Thushara. The three-match series be?tween both the sides ?is set to commence on Saturday (July 27) at Pallekele.

Reason behind Nuwan Thushara’s absence

Thushara sustained a broken finger during a Wednesday evening training session under lights, as confirmed by Sri Lankan Cricket Board. The injury, although to his non-bowling hand, is severe enough to rule him out of the series. This setback is a significant blow given Thushara’s consistent performances in Sri Lanka’s T20I lineup this year.

Another blow with Dushmantha Chameera’s absence

This injury compounds Sri Lanka’s challenges as it follows the earlier loss of Dushmantha Chameera. Chameera, who is yet to recover from bronchitis and a respiratory infection, has been ruled out of the series and replaced by Asitha Fernando. The double blow to the pace attack puts additional pressure on Sri Lanka’s bowling unit ahead of the crucial series.

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Replacement in the Sri Lanka squad

Following Thushara’s injury, Dilshan Madushanka has been drafted into the squad. Thushara’s absence is particularly notable given his impressive recent form.

He was a standout performer in the T20 World Cup 2024, claiming eight wickets in three matches, including a remarkable four-wicket haul against Bangladesh. His performance was one of the few bright spots in the team’s otherwise disappointing campaign.

Overhauls in coaching and leadership

Adding to the tumult, Sri Lanka’s team has undergone significant changes in coaching and captaincy. Chris Silverwood and Wanindu Hasaranga have stepped down as head coach and captain, respectively, post the T20 World Cup. In their stead, Sanath Jayasuriya has taken up the role of interim head coach, while Charith Asalanka has been a?ppointed captain. These changes mark a period of transition for the team, ??as they aim to find stability and build a cohesive unit.

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Mumbai Indians (MI) have a new weapon in their arsenal, and his name is Nuwan Thushara. This young fast bowler from Sri Lanka has taken the cricketing wo??rld by storm with his unique bowling s??tyle and impressive pace.

When Hardik Pandya won the toss against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in M??atch 38 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the MI skipper named three changes by including Nuwan, Nehal Wadhera and Piyush Chawla in place of Akash Madhwal, Romario Shepherd and Shreyas Gopal.

Among the three changes, Thushara’s name captured maximum attention as fans were left wondering who the new talent is. On that note, let’s have a look at some? interesting facts you might not know about the Sri Lankan pacer.

Facts about Nuwan Thushara

Malinga’s Mini-Me

Thushara’s slinging action has earned him the nickname “Podi Malinga,” which translates to “Little Malinga” in Sinhalese. The resemblance to the legendary Lasith Malinga is uncanny, and both bowlers share the ability to generate awkward bounce and movement of?f the pitch.

From Soft-Ball to Stardom

Believe it or not, Thushara honed his skills playing soft-ball cricket in Colombo! His transition to leather-ball crick??et has been remarkable, culminating in a stellar performance at the 2023 Asian Games that thrust him into the spotlight.

Late Bloomer, Big Impact

At 29 years old (as of April 2024), Thushara is a bit of a late bloomer on the international scene. However, his impact has been undeniable. His ability to ta?ke wickets at crucial moments mak??es him a valuable asset for the Sri Lankan national team.

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IPL Breakout

Thushara’s talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. Mumbai, one of the most successful IPL franchises, snapped him up in the 2024 auction for a whopping INR 4.8 crore. This is a testament to his potential and the high regard in which he’s held.

Domestic Stint

Thushara’s journey in domestic cricket began with his first-class debut for Sinhalese Sports Club during the 2015�6 Premier League Tournament on December 26, 2015. He stepped into List A cricket representing Colombo Cric??ket Club in the 2017�8 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on March 10, 2018.

Franchise cricket

Notably, Thushara was enlisted by the Galle Gladiators for the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) in October 2020. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the SLC Greens team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament in August 2021. Later that year, he was once again picked by the Galle Gladiators during the players’ draft for the LPL 2021 in November. His momentum continued as he signed with the Galle Gladiators for the third edition of the tournament.

International career

In January 2022, his name was inked into the roster of Sri Lanka’s ODI squad for Zimbabwe. Within the same lunar cycle, he secured his berth in the T20I squad. Moving to the timeline of February 2024, his designation in Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for their journey to Bangladesh was confirmed. It was on March 9, 2024, during the third T20I encounter, that he etched his name in history by achieving his premier hat-trick in T20Is, joining the ranks of Sri Lanka’s elite bowlers.

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In a thrilling climax to the three-match T20 series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Islanders emerged victorious by 28 runs in the final encounter. The highlight of the game was the outstanding performance by Nuwan Thushara, who not onl?y claimed a brilliant fifer but also sealed the deal with a remarkable hat-trick.

Sri Lanka Innings: Kusal Mendis steals the show

Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka set a challenging target of 175 runs, posting a total of 174/7 in their 20 overs. Kusal Mendis stole the show with a stellar innings of 86 runs off 55 balls, including six fours and six sixes. Other notable contributions came from Dasun Shanaka (19 runs off 9 balls) and Wanindu Hasaranga (15 runs off 13 balls). Despite a commendable effort by Bangladesh bowlers, with Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain taking two ?wickets each, Sri Lanka managed to put up a competitive total.

Nuwan Thushara’s wreaks havoc in Bangladesh camp

Chasing the target, Bangladesh faced early setbacks, struggling to build partnerships. Rishad provided a glimmer of hope with a blistering 53 off 30 balls, but Thushara’s exceptional bowling performance turned the tide in Sri Lanka’s favour. Thushara claimed five wickets for just 20 runs, displaying remarkable skill and precision. Despite Taskin’s valiant effort with 31 runs off 21 balls, Bangladesh fell short, getting bowled out for 146 in 19.4 overs.

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Nuwan Thushara’s hat-trick

Thushara’s dominance was evident from the beginning as he wreaked havoc in the 4th over of Bangladesh’s innings, claiming a brilliant hat-trick. The first victim, Najmul Hossain Shanto, fell victim to brilliant back of a length ball that moved in and kept slightly low, crashing into the stumps. Towhid Hridoy was the next to go, bowled by a good length ball that swung away substantially, hitting the off-stump. The hat-trick was completed with Mahmudullah adjudged LBW, showcasing Thushara’s skill in swinging the ball at good pace.

Here’s the video:

Hat-trick hero! 🔥

Nuwan Thusara's slingy pace tore through Bangladesh's lineup, etching his name in history.
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.#BANvsSL #FanCode pic.twitter.com/cuB8p9DLAs

— FanCode (@FanCode) March 9, 2024

With this, Thushara became just the fifth Sri Lan?kan bowler to claim a hat-trick.

Sri Lanka seal the series

The three-match T20 series between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka lived up to expectation?s with intense competition throughout the three T20 matches, but it was the visitors who eventually claimed the leg (2-1). Notably, Sri Lanka won the 1st T20I by a narrow margin of 3 runs, while Bangladesh bounced back in the 2nd T20I, winning by eight wickets.

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