Charith Asalanka led the Sri Lanka ODI team to a dominant 2-0 win over Australia, following a disappointing Test series in Galle against Steven Smith and his team. In the first ODI, Sri Lanka found themselves in a familiar situation, losing five wickets for just 55 runs.
However, Asalanka played his best innings in limited-overs cricket, guiding Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 214, before the Sri Lankan bowlers dismantled Australia’s new-look batting lineup.
Under Asalanka’s leadership, Sri Lanka has achieved significant success in ODIs, defeating teams like India, Australia, New Zealand, and the West Indies.
His performances with the bat have sparked discussions about a potential return to Test cricket.
Although Asalanka has only played three Test matches, with disappointing results averaging just 14, all his appearances were in spin-friendly conditions in Galle and India.
It’s not only his recent ODI form that has raised hopes, but also his impressive performances for Sinhalese Sports Club in the Major League Tournament.
In two first-class matches, Asalanka scored 194 runs across two innings at an average of 97 and took 13 wickets, including a ten-wicket haul in a match against Tamil Union.
His all-around brilliance suggests that Sri Lanka may have a valuable Test batsman in him.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka Cricket might need to reassess the future of senior middle-order batsman Angelo Mathews. At 37, Mathews saved his Test career with a crucial 76 in the second Test against Australia but has been inconsistent.
Despite his solid career average of nearly 45, SLC may prefer to groom a younger player for the number four position moving forward.
Asalanka could be a strong candidate to captain Sri Lanka across all formats, having already proven his leadership skills in limited-overs cricket.
Dhananjaya de Silva, despite making questionable decisions in the 2-0 loss to Australia, is expected to continue leading for the time being.
However, Sri Lanka will likely want someone like Asalanka to take the reins in the future, especially given his excellent leadership qualities and positive influence as a role model, which sets him apart from many contemporary cricketers.
