India defeated Sri Lanka to reach the final of the 2023 Asia Cup© AFP
The Indian cricket team defeated Sri Lanka to book a spot in the 2023 Asia Cup final, but young spinner Dunith Wellalage’s performance earned him praise from pundits and fans alike. He picked up a brilliant haul of five wickets, including the prized wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, and then played a hard knock of 42 off 46 deliveries to almost take his side to victory. Although he fell short, Wellalage received a huge compliment from legendary Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga.
Malinga said on social media that considering Wellalage’s all-round performance, it felt like Sri Lanka were playing with 12 players and even predicted that he could be a big star in the future.
“It’s fair to say that SL played with twelve players today. That’s how good Dunith was,” Malinga wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “He has a brilliant head on his young shoulders to match his all-round skills. I believe he is on track to become the most important player for SL in ODIs over the next decade.”
It’s fair to say that SL played with twelve players today. Dunith was that good
He has a brilliant head on his young shoulders to match his all-round skills.
I believe he is on track to become the most important player for SL in ODIs in the next decade#INDvSL— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) September 12, 2023
“For me, Virat Kohli is the No. 1 batsman. I am very happy that I got those two (Kohli and Rohit) big wickets. I trust my base, and myself,” Wellalage said during the post-match press conference.
The 20-year-old said he was trying to bowl a wicket-to-wicket line against a bunch of experienced batsmen.
“The batters were set and India had started fantastically. I was just trying to bowl wicket to wicket. Once we got those three wickets in three overs, we were able to put pressure on India.
“There was turn and if you put the ball in the right area you could upset the batsmen. But I would have been happier with a win,” Wellalage said.
(With PTI inputs)
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