Bhanuka Rajapaksa is a hard-hitting Batsman from Sri Lanka. He is an essential member of the Sri Lanka T20I team. Still, despite a prolific domestic career, Rajapaksa only made his international debut when he was called up for the T20I series against Pakistan in 2019, ten years after his first-class debut.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s Bio
| Full Name | Pramod Bhanuka Bandara Rajapaksa |
| Nick Name | Rajapaksa, Bhanu |
| Birthplace | Colombo |
| Birthday | October 24, 1991 |
| Age | 31 Years |
| Zodiac Sign | Scorpio |
| Hometown | Colombo Sri-Lanka |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Profession | Cricketer |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Cricket Info
| Role | Top order Batter |
| Batting Style | Left Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right Arm Medium |
| Major Teams | Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka Under-25s, Sri Lanka A, Uva Unicorns, Sri Lanka Under-19s, Punjab Kings. |
| Domestic Teams | Barisal Division, Sinhalese Sports Club, Galle Gladiators |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s Net worth
Bhanuka’s estimated net worth is $6 million, earning $1 million yearly. Cricket and brand endorsements are his primary sources of income.
| Salary | $1 million approx. |
| Net Worth | $6 million |
| Cars | Toyota Land Cruiser & Subaru STI |
Physical Measurements
| Body type | Fair |
| Height | 1.80 m |
| Weight | 75 Kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Chest | 38 Inches |
| Biceps | 13 Inches |
| Waist | 32 Inches |
| Shoe Size | 10 US |
Bhanuka Rajapaksa Family
| Father Name | Not Known |
| Mother Name | Not Known |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Date | April 5, 2021 |
| Wife | Sandrine Pereira |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Son | None |
| Daughter | None |
| Relatives | Mahinda Rajapaksa |
| Brother | SSB Rajapaksa |
| Sister | Yenuka Bandularatna |
Rajapaksa wed his longtime lover, Sandrine Perera, in a religious ceremony on April 5, 2021.
Education
| School | High School |
| College | Royal College Colombo |
| Qualification | Graduation |
Facts & Favorite Things
| Favorite Color | Black |
| Favorite Food | Chocolate |
| Favorite Actors | Amitabh Bachchan |
| Hobbies | Traveling, Playing Cricket |
| Favorite Cricketers | Adam Gilchrist and Virat Kohli |
| Favorite Bowler | Not Known |
| Favorite Sports | Squash and Swimming |
| T20I Cap Number | 83 |
| ODI Cap Number | 201 |
| Test Cap Number | N/A |
| Does He Smoke? | Not Known |
| Does He Drink? | Yes |
| Languages he spoke | Tamil and Sinhala |
Career
The cricketing career of Bhanuka Rajapaksa is the result of years of hard effort. He began playing while he was a youngster and played for the cricket team of his college, Royal College. Pramod represented his nation in the 2010 U-19 World Cup as a dependable batsman and finished that competition with the most runs (253) of the Sri Lankan squad.
He competed in an under-19 one-day competition in Australia the year before the World Cup, and in one of the games, he faced 111 balls and scored 154 runs.
International Cricket
In his maiden T20I against Pakistan in 2019, he hit 32 runs off only 22 deliveries to help his team win by 64 runs. He made his T20I debut that year. Sri Lanka won that series 3. Moreover, he was a member of Sri Lanka’s 2021 T20I World Cup team. In 2021, while playing in India, he was granted an opportunity in the ODI format.
T20I
At the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore, he played Pakistan in his first T20I match in 2019. In the 18 innings of the 21 T20I games he has played so far, he has amassed 350 runs at an average of 23.33 and a strike rate of 134.62. He is renowned for his ability to hit with power. He is one of the world’s most accurate whiteball hitters.
ODI
He had the opportunity to play an ODI match against India at R. The Premadasa in 2021. He has only had the chance to play for Sri Lanka in 5 tournaments so far, and in those five games, he has only managed to score 89 runs for an average of 17.8 and a strike rate of 104.71.
IPL
He participated in the IPL 2022 for the Punjab Kings. He surprised everyone with his perfect striking in the opening few games of the IPL 2022 before being replaced by Jonny Bairstow.
In the nine games he has played thus far, he has scored 206 runs with an impressive strike rate of 159.69 and an average of 23.33. At the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, he faced off in his debut IPL game against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022.
Awards
- Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Observer-Mobitel (2010)
- Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Observer-Mobitel (2011)
- A young, up-and-coming U-19 cricketer at the CEAT Sri Lanka Cricket Awards (2011).
Retirement
On January 3, 2022, Bhanuka made his early retirement announcement. Bhanuka Rajapaksa notified SLC that he intended to revoke his retirement, which he had filed on January 3 after speaking with the Minister of Youth and Sports Namal Rajapaksa.
Controversy
Rajapaksa was dissatisfied with being cut from the team due to fitness requirements after being removed from the West Indies and England tours in 2021.
In a YouTube interview, he stated that players’ on-field performances should take precedence over their fitness levels. He attacked the Sri Lankan selection and cricket officials for being unclear with their rules.
Rajapaksa was chastised by Sri Lanka’s head cricket coach, Mickey Arthur, who referred to him as a “comfort zone cricketer” on the ground and said that he had not passed the skin-fold test to prove that he was physically fit enough to compete in international cricket tournaments.
FAQ’s
Who is Bhanuka Rajapaksa?
A Sri-Lankan Cricketer.
Which team Bhanuka Rajapaksa plays for in IPL?
Punjab Kings.
Is Bhanuka Rajapaksa Married?
Yes
Who is the wife of Bhanuka Rajapaksa?
Sandrine Perera.
What is the Nationality of Bhanuka Bandara Rajapaksa?
Bhanuka belongs to the Sri Lankan nationality.
