Chamindu Wickramasinghe – aiming to be that compete cricketer
Despite exiting early from the ICC T20 World Cup in 2024, the agony Sri Lankan cricket followers had to endure was swept aside by the fifth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL). The five-team extravaganza provided the thrills and excitement they had been anticipating. The fifth LPL served as a stepping stone for several youngsters knocking on the national team’s door, as Sri Lanka was already executing a plan to build a team with fresh legs for the next ICC T20 World Cup, to be held in 2026 in India and Sri Lanka.
One such youngster who emerged from the LPL was all-rounder, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, who represented the Dambulla Sixers and made his mark with 188 runs and seven wickets in 10 games. His batting average in the LPL was 47.00, while his bowling average was 26.85—an impressive feat for a young debutant.
Chamindu Wickramasinghe
This performance served as a springboard for Wickramasinghe, earning him a call-up to the Sri Lanka T20 squad against India, notably at his home ground in Pallekele. He became Sri Lanka’s 108th T20 cap.
Already stealing the limelight as an ideal T20 all-rounder following the retirement of Thisara Perera, Wickramasinghe never, in his wildest dreams, imagined becoming a cricketer. His passion from a young age was to be a versatile track and field athlete.
“Until I was 11, I never thought of becoming a cricketer. It was my father who persuaded me to do it. As time progressed, I had to decide whether to focus on athletics or cricket. Eventually, I chose cricket, and looking back, I have no regrets about giving up athletics,” Wickramasinghe recalled.
Coming from a middle-class background, Wickramasinghe’s parents recognised his potential and supported his desire to become a professional cricketer, despite financial hardships. He first attended Athugalpura Prince College in Kurunegala, where his first coach, Mahinda Rajapaksha, identified his talent as an Under-13 player. With his coach’s guidance, Wickramasinghe joined a cricket academy in Kandy, as his school lacked the facilities necessary for a youngster of his potential.
One of the academy’s coaches, Samson Burke, then encouraged Wickramasinghe to join St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota, where he further honed his skills and progressed to the national level.
Today, Wickramasinghe is known as a bowling all-rounder who can also bat well. However, few know that he was initially considered a batting all-rounder at school level. Until he was 16, he primarily focused on batting, but this changed when he was selected for the national fast-bowling academy under then-head coach Hashan Tillakaratne. Under Tillakaratne’s watchful eyes, Wickramasinghe improved his bowling significantly, eventually becoming a net bowler for the Sri Lanka Under-19s before making it into the team.
Few are aware that Wickramasinghe had impressive seasons as an Under-15 and Under-17 cricketer at St. Anthony’s College, Katugastota, even scoring a century on his debut at the 102nd Hill Country Battle of the Blues against Trinity College.
“Representing the country at the Under-19 level was my ultimate dream. My school coach, Mr. Suneth Gunathilake, played a crucial role in my development. It was a pleasant surprise to be selected for the national youth team, and it was a moment of pride for my school, as only a few Antonians have achieved that feat,” said Wickramasinghe, who captained his school team in his final year.
After playing for the national Under-19 side for three years from 2019, Wickramasinghe missed the ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in 2020, held in South Africa, due to a back injury. However, he made amends two years later by representing Sri Lanka in the next edition, held in the West Indies.
Despite finishing with an average performance as an Under-19 cricketer, Wickramasinghe used his setbacks as motivation to identify areas for improvement while keeping his dream of representing Sri Lanka alive. During this period, he caught the attention of then-white-ball skipper Dasun Shanaka, who recognized his potential as an all-rounder and encouraged him to join Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC).
“When I met Dasun Shanaka, I was still an Under-19 cricketer, and I’m grateful that one of my idols invited me to join SSC to play in the Under-23 tournament. As time progressed, I made my T20 debut for the club, which I regard as a confidence booster for my development as a professional cricketer.”
After consistently performing at the Under-23 level, Wickramasinghe made his first-class debut in 2023 against Nugegoda Welfare and Sports Club, making an instant impact. He scored a century on debut, and since then, he has remained a crucial player for SSC in all formats.
“As an Under-19 player, I had the opportunity to participate in a three-month workshop at the MRF Academy for fast bowlers, conducted by Australian legend Glenn McGrath. It was a great learning experience where I acquired various techniques to improve myself as a bowler. The workshop covered the mental aspects of fast bowling, proper bowling postures, setting up a batter for a mistake, patience, and many other key elements to becoming a complete fast bowler. Among all the fast bowlers, I was the only all-rounder in the workshop,” he noted, recalling the opportunity that led him to earn a spot in the Dambulla franchise, ultimately paving his path to the national team.
Avishka Gunawardene, who has monitored Wickramasinghe’s progress since his Under-19 days, believes the youngster possesses all the attributes of a successful fast-bowling all-rounder.
“I first saw him when he was in the youth team, where I was the head coach. He was part of the squad that went to the World Cup under Dunith Wellalage, and since then, I’ve seen him improve,” said Gunawardena.
“His ability to hit the ball hard and his high-arm action while bowling, which is a rare skill, make him a valuable asset for Sri Lanka cricket. In the Under-19 setup, he was our first choice. He has progressed well, especially in his batting, but he still needs to refine his bowling. He is young and has a lot to learn, but I firmly believe he will be among the next generation of quality all-rounders to elevate Sri Lanka cricket.”
Despite making it to the national team at just 22, Wickramasinghe is well aware of the tougher challenges that lie ahead. However, he is eager to evolve into a quality fast-bowling all-rounder across all three formats.
“I’m pleased with what I have achieved so far. White-ball skipper Charith Asalanka and the team management have kept faith in me throughout my short international career. This is just the beginning of a long journey. I know the challenges have only just begun, and I aim to face them all, overcome them, and become a complete cricketer like my idols—Ben Stokes, Dasun Shanaka, and Hardik Pandya,” Wickramasinghe stated with optimism.