Nuwan Thushara

Role: Bowler

Batting Style: Right Handed Bat

Bowling Style: Right-arm fast-medium

Country: Sri Lanka

Player profile for Nuwan Thushara

Nuwan Thushara is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer widely known for his right-arm medium-fast bowling and distinctive slingy action, which resembles the legendary Lasith Malinga. His performance, especially in limited-overs formats, has earned him recognition both in domestic cricket and on the international stage.

Personal Information:

Full Name: Nuwan Thushara
Date of Birth: August 6, 1994
Place of Birth: Thalawa, Sri Lanka
Nickname: “Podi Malinga” (meaning “Little Malinga” in Sinhalese, highlighting his similar bowling action to Lasith Malinga)
Family: Nuwan has two elder brothers and comes from a humble background.

Early Life and Education:

Thushara attended Thalawa Junior National School in Elpitiya, Sri Lanka, during his early years.
Growing up in Sri Lanka, he developed an interest in cricket at a young age, inspired by players like Lasith Malinga, whose bowling action greatly influenced his own.

Domestic Career:

First-Class Debut: Nuwan debuted in first-class cricket for Sinhalese Sports Club during the 2015–16 Premier League Tournament.
List A Debut: He debuted for Colombo Cricket Club in the 2017–18 Premier Limited Overs Tournament.
Lanka Premier League: Thushara played in the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) in October 2020, representing the Galle Gladiators. He continued to feature for the team in subsequent seasons, making an impact with his bowling.

International Career:

ODI Debut: Nuwan made his One Day International (ODI) debut on January 18, 2022, against Zimbabwe.
T20I Debut: He played his first T20 International (T20I) match on February 13, 2022, against Australia.

Notable Performances:

During the 2024 T20 World Cup, Nuwan Thushara emerged as Sri Lanka’s top wicket-taker, claiming eight wickets at an average of 7.5 and an economy rate of 5.6.
His best performance in the World Cup came when he took four wickets against Bangladesh, showcasing his ability to perform under pressure.

Indian Premier League (IPL) Career:

IPL Acquisition: In July 2022, Nuwan Thushara was signed by the Mumbai Indians for the 2024 IPL season at a significant salary of ₹4.8 crore.
IPL Debut: Thushara made his IPL debut on April 22, 2024, playing against Rajasthan Royals.

Playing Style:

Bowling: Right-arm medium-fast with a slingy action, similar to Malinga’s, which makes him highly effective in death overs and powerplay situations.
His ability to bowl yorkers and keep a low economy rate has made him a crucial asset in limited-overs cricket.
Thushara’s slinging action and his capacity to consistently bowl well at the death overs make him a valuable asset for both domestic and international teams.

Personal Life and Interests:

Idol: He idolizes Lasith Malinga, whose bowling style has influenced Nuwan’s career path.
Thushara enjoys the support of his family, especially his two elder brothers, and is known to be highly dedicated to improving his game.
He also has a deep love for cricket, considering it his passion, and it is reflected in his consistent performances.

Impact and Future Prospects:

Nuwan Thushara’s rise through Sri Lanka’s domestic cricket scene to the international stage has been rapid, and he is regarded as one of the promising fast bowlers of Sri Lanka’s future.
With his impressive bowling performances in T20s and ODIs, especially in key tournaments like the T20 World Cup, Thushara is expected to play a key role in Sri Lanka’s limited-overs teams in the coming years.

In summary, Nuwan Thushara’s career is one to watch, with his unique style and effective bowling making him a potential star in the world of cricket. His continued development, especially in international cricket, suggests that he will play a vital role in Sri Lanka’s future cricketing success.