Danushka Gunathilaka`s Bio
| Full Name | Mashtayage Danushka Gunathilaka |
| Nick Name | Gunathilaka/ Danu |
| Place of Birth | Panadura Sri-Lanka |
| Date of Birth | March 17, 1991 |
| Age | 31 Years |
| Batting Style | Left Handed Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right Arm Off-Break |
| Role in team | Opening Batter |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Hometown | Panadura Sri-Lanka |
| Religion | Buddhism |
Net worth
| Salary | $ 62,750 approx. |
| Net Worth | $1 – $ 5 million Approximately |
Physical Measurements
| Height | 1.85 m |
| Weight | 70 Kg |
| Hair Color | Black |
| Eye Color | Black |
| Chest | 41 Inches |
| Biceps | 13 Inches |
| Waist | 32 Inches |
Family & Relationships
| Father Name | Not Known |
| Mother Name | Not Known |
| Marital Status | Single |
| Wife | None |
| Girlfriend | None |
| Son | None |
| Daughter | None |
| Siblings | Not Known |
Teams Played For
| Sri-Lanka | SBP XI | Basnahira Cricket Dundee |
| Ruhuna Reds | Dambulla | Galle Gladiators |
| Southern Express | Sri-Lanka A | Sylhet Sixers |
| Kandy |
Facts
| Favorite Color | Not Known |
| Favorite Food | Not Known |
| Favorite Actors | Not Known |
| Favorite Singers | Not known |
| Favorite Actress | Not Known |
| Holiday Destinations | Not Known |
| Hobbies | Not Known |
| Favorite Cricketers | Mahela Jayawardena, Brett Lee, and A.B. DE Villiers |
| T20I Cap Number | 60 |
| ODI Cap Number | 166 |
| Test Cap Number | 140 |
| Does He Smoke? | Not Known |
| Does He Drink? | Yes |
| Languages he spoke | Tamil and Sinhala |
Education
He graduated from Mahanama College Moratuwa.
Early Years
As a member of the Colts Cricket Club, Gunathilaka made his cricket debut in the 2007-08 Inter-Provincial Twenty20 tournaments for Sri Lanka Schools.
In 2009–10, Gunathilaka made his Colombo Cricket Club List-A debut against Sinhalese Sports Club, scoring a single run. He also played school cricket at Mahanama College. At the 2010 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, he also played for the Sri Lankan national under-19 cricket team.
In March 2018, he was included in Kandy’s squad for the 2017-18 Super Four Provincial Tournament. A month later, he was included in Kandy’s team for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.
In August 2018, he was selected to play in Dambulla’s squad for the 2018 SLC T20 League. In March 2019, he was chosen to play in Dambulla’s team for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.
Career
LPL
The Galle Gladiators selected him to play in the inaugural Lanka Premier League in October 2020. He also ended up in the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League in 2020 as the leading runscorer of the tournament with 476 runs in 10 matches and singlehandedly led the Galle Gladiators franchise to the game final.
Veteran Pakistani allrounder and Galle Gladiators captain Shahid Afridi also praised Gunathilaka’s performance, calling him possibly the next Kumar Sangakkara of Sri Lanka.
In the 2020 LPL final, his bizarre run-out following a collision with Suranga Lakmal drew sympathy and attention from social media. His superb performances at the 2020 My11Circle Lanka Premier League led to him being named to the LPL team of the tournament.
After the players’ draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League, he was selected to play for the Galle Gladiators. In July 2022, he was signed for the third edition of the league by the Galle Gladiators.
International Cricket
As a first-time Day International player for Sri Lanka, he debuted against the West Indies on November 1, 2015. In 2015, he was selected for a home series of ODIs against the West Indies after scoring two fifties in four innings with the Sri Lankan-A side on a tour of New Zealand.
In 2015-16, Gunathilaka replaced Kusal Perera in the ODI squad along with Tillakaratne Dilshan after Perera was dropped due to a drug scandal. In the third ODI, which was Gunathilaka’s only fourth international match, he scored 65 runs out of 45 balls.
The innings included seven fours and four sixes, and he drove New Zealand from the game. On January 7, 2016, Gunathilaka made his Twenty20 International debut for Sri Lanka against New Zealand during the same tour. Sri Lanka won the match by eight wickets, and Gunathilaka was adjudged Man of the game.
Sri Lanka did not initially announce Gunathilaka to their squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy. He was called up to replace Chamara Kapugedera, who was injured.
In the Champions Trophy, Sri Lanka chased 321 to win, the highest chase in Champions Trophy history. He scored 77 runs against India. With Kusal Mendis, he put up 159 runs during the run chase.
On July 6, 2017, Gunathilaka scored his maiden ODI century against Zimbabwe at MRIC Stadium. He along with Niroshan Dickwella added a 229-run partnership for the first wicket, where Dickwella also scored his maiden ODI century.
Sri Lanka chased 310 to win the match, which is recorded as the first 300+ chase by Sri Lanka on home soil as well. Gunathilaka won the Man of the Match award for his impressive batting performance.
Against Zimbabwe in the fourth ODI, he and Niroshan Dickwella became the first pair of batsmen to score two successive 200-plus partnerships. While Dickwella scored his second consecutive century, he missed out on his consecutive century.
On July 26, 2017, he made his Sri Lankan Test debut against India. He scored 18 runs and took one wicket against Abhinav Mukund. Ultimately, Sri Lanka lost by 304 runs.
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) awarded him a national contract in May 2018 ahead of the 2018–19 season. However, in July 2018, SLC suspended him from all forms of international cricket.
Despite his disciplinary issues, Gunathilaka helped Sri Lanka to have a strong opening stand against South Africa, where he and Dimuth Karunaratne put on a century partnership in the first innings, followed by a 91-run partnership in the second innings. In the match, Gunathilaka scored two fifties, and Sri Lanka won by 199 runs to win the series 2–0.
Due to an injury sustained during the training session, he could not participate in the 2018 Asia Cup. Shehan Jayasuriya replaced him.
During the second ODI against Pakistan in Karachi on October 2, 2019, Gunathilaka scored his second ODI century. To post a target of 297 for Pakistan, he scored 133 off 134 deliveries. Despite this, Pakistan won the match and sealed the series 2–0. Gunathilaka scored his second T20I fifty during the first match against Pakistan.
He and Avishka Fernando had an opening partnership of 84 runs, which laid the foundation for 165 runs. It was Sri Lanka’s highest winning margin ever against Pakistan, winning by 64 runs after bowling them out for 101 runs. For his all-around performance, Gunathilaka won the Man of the Match award.
On March 10, 2021, in the first match against the West Indies, Gunathilaka became the first cricketer for Sri Lanka to be given out, obstructing the field in ODIs. However, West Indies captain Kieron Pollard later apologized to Gunathilaka after his error in the game.
However, during the ODI series, he was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with scores of 55, 96, and 36 even though his impressive opening stand, Sri Lanka lost the series 3-0.
T20I
He was given chance in the T20I format in 2016 against New Zealand at The Bay Oval. In his T20I carrier, he has played 39 T20I matches and has managed to score 678 runs at an average of 17.84 and at a strike rate of 121.94.
ODI
He got his chance to play ODI cricket v West Indies at R. Premadasa Stadium in the year 2015. He has been allowed to represent Sri Lanka in 47 ODI matches until now and he has managed to score 1601 runs at an average of 35.58 and with a strike rate of 86.82. He also has two hundred in his carrier.
Test
He has played his first Test match against India in 2017 at Galle International Stadium. In the 16 innings of the eight games he has played for Sri Lanka, he compiled 299 runs at an average of 18.69.
Controversies
On July 22, 2018, Sri Lanka Cricket suspended Gunathilaka again from international cricket for breaching the “Player Code of Conduct” by breaking the team curfew. His suspension came immediately after the end of the second test against South Africa. Gunathilaka was fined his entire match fee from the second test and was suspended for six matches.
The first three matches of the six-match suspension are for his current breach of the code of conduct, whereas the other three games are about October 2017 incident.
The reason for the suspension from international cricket was due to the fact that one of the friends of Gunathilaka was accused of raping a Norwegian woman in a hotel room in Colombo and Gunathilaka was inquired by the Sri Lanka Police regarding the matter.
The Sri Lankan Police later revealed that Gunathilaka was innocent and cleared him of allegations of rape and sexual assault.
On June 28, 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) suspended Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, and Niroshan Dickwella after they breached the team’s bio-secure bubble during Sri Lanka’s tour of England.
All three players were seen in the city center of Durham; with SLC sending them all back home ahead of the ODI matches. In July 2021, following the outcome of the incident, Gunathilaka was suspended from playing international cricket for one year.
Sri Lanka Cricket agreed to lift the ban early, rescinding the punishment in January 2022.
FAQ’s
Who is Danushaka Gunathilaka?
A Sri-Lankan Cricketer
Which team Danushaka Gunathilaka plays for in IPL?
He has yet to make his IPL debut.
Is Danushaka Gunathilaka married?
No
