Maheesh Theekshana

Last updated

Maheesh Theekshana
Personal information
Full name
Morawakage Maheesh Theekshana
Born (2000-08-01) 1 August 2000 (age 23)
Colombo, Sri Lanka
NicknameMahiya,Theeka, Robin Hood
BattingRight-handed
Bowling Right-arm off-break
Role All-rounder
International information
National side
Test debut(cap  161)8 July 2022 v  Australia
Last Test16 July 2022 v  Pakistan
ODI debut(cap  202)7 September 2021 v  South Africa
Last ODI11 February 2024 v  Afghanistan
T20I debut(cap  90)10 September 2021 v  South Africa
Last T20I19 February 2024 v  Afghanistan
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
Representing Flag of Sri Lanka.svg  Sri Lanka
Men's Cricket
Asia Cup
Winner 2022 UAE
Runner-up 2023 Pakistan and Sri Lanka

Morawakage Maheesh Theekshana (born 1 August 2000) is a professional cricketer who plays for the Sri Lanka national cricket team in all three formats of the game. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka in September 2021. Regarded as one of the best T20 bowlers in the world, his bowling action resembles that of former Sri Lankan mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who coincidentally happened to be his mentor with the Sri Lanka Army Sports Club, whom he has represented in the Sri Lankan domestic game. [1]

Contents

He currently plays for the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League in club cricket, winning the championship as a key player in 2023.

Early life

Theekshana grew up with his grandmother and hailed from Siddhartha Vidyalaya, Sedawatta. Two of the old boys from St. Benedict's College, Colombo requested the guardian of Theekshana to switch their location to Kotahena in order to make Theekshana play school cricket representing St. Benedict's College. The Cricket Wing of St. Benedict's volunteered to look after his finances in the first two years and later the St. Benedict's College granted him a scholarship offer. He repaid the faith by winning the All Island Best All Rounder Award during his final year at St. Benedict's College. [2]

Military career

Theekshana joined the Sri Lanka Army, following basic training he served as a Private in the Gajaba Regiment and played for the Sri Lanka Army cricket team. Following the Asia Cup Championship in 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. [3]

Domestic and T20 franchise career

After having impressed with the ball at school level, he was called for trials by the National Cricket Academy at R. Premadasa Stadium. He subsequently impressed the spin bowling coaches and director of cricket at National Cricket Academy, Simon Willis with his control, accuracy, bounce, variations in addition to his Ajantha Mendis alike bowling action. [4] However, he was under scrutiny for his body weight as at one stage he weighed at 105 kilograms, 140 skin-folds and he also faced difficulties to pass fitness tests as he took 10.1 minutes to complete the two-kilometre tests and also produced sub par YOYO test conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket. [5] He was also omitted from Sri Lankan U-19 squad for the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup on the basis of fitness issues. [6] According to some sources, Theekshana had weighed around 117 kilograms during his U19 days. [7]

Theekshana made his List A debut for Colts Cricket Club in the 2017–18 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on 14 March 2018. [8] He made his first-class debut for Colts Cricket Club in the 2018–19 Premier League Tournament on 7 December 2018. [9] In October 2020, he was drafted by the Jaffna Stallions for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League. [10] He joined Sri Lanka Army in 2020 and transformed him completely as he began adhering to strict food diets and worked hard on improving his fitness levels. He also subsequently reduced his weight as per the level of expectations levelled on him in order to pursue his cricketing ambitions. By 2020, he had dropped 22 kilograms and halved his skinfold levels. He also improved his two-kilometer run within 10 minutes and improved his YOYO test maximum from 16.1 to 19.2. [4] He trained under Ajantha Mendis who was his first coach with Sri Lanka Army when he joined Army's U-23 side. He was picked in 2020 Lanka Premier League on the back with his impressive performances at 2020 Army Commander's Cup. [11] He initially didn't make the cut for the 2020 Lanka Premier League draft and he was categorized in supplementary category which made him ineligible to play. However, with the recommendation of Thisara Perera he was promoted from supplementary category to emerging category in Jaffna Stallions squad for the 2020 LPL season after the request was accepted by SLC. [12]

In August 2021, Theekshana was named in the SLC Blues team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament. [13] In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Jaffna Kings following the players' draft for the 2021 Lanka Premier League. [14] he ended tournament with highest wicket taker of Lanka Premier League 2021.

In February 2022, he was bought by the Chennai Super Kings in the auction for the 2022 Indian Premier League tournament. [15] During the 2022 edition of the Tata IPL, he broke Rohit Sharma's record to become the youngest ever bowler to take a four-wicket haul in an IPL match as he achieved the landmark at the age of 21 years and 255 days against Royal Challengers Bangalore. [16] [17] In July 2022, he was signed by the Jaffna Kings for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League. [18] In July 2022, he was signed by Trinbago Knight Riders for the 2022 Caribbean Premier League. [19]

In August 2022, he was picked up by Johannesburg Super Kings for the inaugural edition of the South Africa's CSA T20 League which was held in 2023. [20] [21]

International career

Following Theekshana's strong performances in the SLC Invitational T20 league, he was named in Sri Lanka's One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 International (T20I) squads for their series against South Africa. [22] [23] He made his ODI debut on 7 September 2021, for Sri Lanka against South Africa. [24] In the match, he took a wicket with his first ball in ODI cricket. [25] He took 4 wickets for 37 runs, [26] helping Sri Lanka win the series 2–1. [27] He became the first Sri Lankan international cricketer to be born in the 21st century. [28] He made his T20I debut on 10 September 2021, also for Sri Lanka against South Africa. [29] Later the same month, Theekshana was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. [30] [31] He ended the tournament as second highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka with eight scalps. [32]

In June 2022, he achieved his career best eighth ranking in ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for bowlers. [33]

In July 2022, he was added to Sri Lanka's Test squad for the second match against Australia. [34] He made his Test debut on 8 July 2022, for Sri Lanka against Australia. [35] In August 2022, he was included in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2022 Asia Cup. [36] Along with Wanindu Hasaranga, Theekshana made the spin bowling department, where Sri Lanka eventually won the tournament for the sixth time. [37] Theekshana made consistent wicket taking option for skipper Dasun Shanaka, where he ended the tournament with 6 wickets for 162 runs with an economy of 6.75. [38]

Controversy

The fans of Chennai Super Kings expressed their grief and vent their frustrations in disbelief by trending hashtags #Boycott_ChennaiSuperKings and #DontNormalizeTamilGenocide in various social media platforms soon after Chennai Super Kings bought Theekshana during the 2022 IPL auction since he had served in the Sri Lankan army. [39]

Related Research Articles

Kande Arachchige Isuru Udana Tillakaratna is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who represented Sri Lanka internationally in limited over formats. He currently plays domestic cricket for Tamil Union and Wayamba. Primarily a left arm fast bowler, Udana evolved as an all-rounder in late 2018. On 31 July 2021, Udana announced his retirement from international cricket.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thisara Perera</span> Sri Lankan cricketer

Narangoda Liyanaarachchige Thisara Chirantha Perera, popularly as Thisara Perera, is a former Sri Lankan international cricketer who played all formats for the national team. He also captained the team in limited-overs formats. Domestically he plays for Sri Lanka Army Sports Club in the Premier Trophy and Premier Limited-Overs Tournament, and the Jaffna Stallions in the Lanka Premier League. Perera has played franchise T20 cricket all around the world for numerous leagues. Primarily a bowling all-rounder, he is an aggressive left-handed batsman who can hit big sixes in death overs and is a useful right-arm medium-fast bowler.

Pramod Bhanuka Bandara Rajapaksa,, popularly known as Bhanuka Rajapaksa, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who plays limited over internationals for the national team. He is a left-handed batsman who bowls right-arm medium. He was born in Colombo. Despite a prolific domestic career, Rajapaksa only made his international debut when he was called up for the T20I series against Pakistan in 2019, ten years after his first-class debut.

Mahamarakkala Kurukulasooriya Patabendige Akila Dananjaya Perera, popularly as Akila Dananjaya, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who played all forms of the game for the national team. In March 2021, he became the first bowler to take hat-trick and be hit for the maximum of six sixes in an over in the same match, by Kieron Pollard against West Indies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Deepak Chahar</span> Indian cricketer (born 1992)

Deepak Chahar is an Indian international cricketer. He is a right-arm medium pace swing bowler, who plays for Rajasthan in domestic cricket and Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League. He was a part of the Indian squad which won the 2018 Asia Cup.

Evin Earl Lewis is a Trinidadian cricket who use to also play for the West Indies as a left-handed opening batsman. At most featuring in limited-overs internationals, he's the third batsman, after Brendon McCullum and Chris Gayle, to score two Twenty20 International centuries. Lewis also holds the records of the highest retired hurt score, of 176 not out, in international cricket along with the highest score, of 125 not out, by a West Indian in T20 internationals. Lewis was a member of the West Indies team that won the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Pathira Vasan Dushmantha Chameera is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for all three formats for the national team, and plays domestically for Nondescripts Cricket Club. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka in January 2015.

Lahiru Dilshan Madushanka, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who plays for limited over internationals. A handy right-handed batsman, Madushanka bowls right-arm medium-fast]]. He is an old Thomian of St. Thomas' College, Matale.

Kariyawasam Indipalage Charith Asalanka is a Sri Lankan professional cricketer who plays all three formats of the game for the national team and also serves as the vice-captain of the national team in T20I and ODI. Aleft-handed batsman, Asalanka made his international debut for Sri Lanka in June 2021.

Binura Fernando is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the Sri Lanka national team in limited over internationals.

Madagamagamage Dasun Shanaka is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer and former limited overs captain of the Sri Lankan cricket team. An all-rounder, Shanaka is a right-handed batter and a right-arm medium fast bowler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wanindu Hasaranga</span> Sri Lankan cricketer

Pinnaduwage Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva, better known as Wanindu Hasaranga, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer and current T20I captain who plays for the Sri Lanka cricket team in white ball cricket as a Batting All rounder. He is a Right-arm leg spinner. Hasaranga made his international debut for Sri Lanka in July 2017. His elder brother, Chaturanga de Silva, has also represented the national team. Hasaranga made history when he took the first ever hat-trick for Sri Lanka in a T20 World Cup during the 2021 edition of the tournament, and being the first Sri Lankan on an ODI debut to take a hat-trick.

Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis, popularly as Kamindu Mendis, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the national team, and for Colombo Cricket Club in domestic cricket. He is an ambidextrous bowler and has bowled both right and left-arm deliveries during the same over. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in October 2018.

Downdegedara Asela Sampath Gunaratne, commonly known as Asela Gunaratne is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who played all forms of the game for Sri Lanka. Gunaratne is an aggressive right-handed batsman who occasionally bowls part-time medium pace. He is currently serving in the Sri Lanka Army as a Warrant officer attached to the 6th Field Regiment, Sri Lanka Artillery. He is a past pupil of Sri Rahula College, Kandy. In November 2017, he won four awards at Sri Lanka Cricket's annual awards ceremony, including two awards for best all-rounder.

Weerahandige Inol Avishka Fernando, commonly as Avishka Fernando, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer, who currently plays limited over internationals for Sri Lanka national team. He plays for Colts Cricket Club in domestic cricket, and he made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in August 2016. He had his education in St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa.

Ilandari Dewage Nuwan Thushara is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer currently plays T20Is for the national team. A fast bowler with a slinging action, Thushara made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in February 2022 against Australia. He is a past pupil of Thalawa Kanitu Vidyalaya, Alpitiya.

Perumapperuma Arachchige Kaveesha Praveen Jayawickrama, normally known as Praveen Jayawickrama, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays for the national team in all three formats. He made his international debut for the Sri Lanka cricket team in April 2021. He had his education in St. Sebastian's College, Moratuwa. and Holy Cross College, Kaluthara.

The South Africa cricket team toured Sri Lanka in September 2021 to play three One Day International (ODI) and three Twenty20 International (T20I) matches. The ODI series formed part of the inaugural 2020–2023 ICC Cricket World Cup Super League.

Lokumarakkalage Dilshan Madushanka is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who currently plays limited over internationals for Sri Lanka. He is a past pupil of Hungama Vijayaba Central College, Hungama.

Matheesha Pathirana is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who currently plays limited overs cricket for the national team. He has been referred to as Baby Malinga, as he has modelled his bowling action after Lasith Malinga in sling action.

References

  1. ↑ "Dasun Shanaka: Maheesh Theekshana won't be easy to read for any team". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "Theekshana spins St. Benedict's to victory". The Sunday Times Sri Lanka. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  3. ↑ "Promotions & Cash Incentives Awarded to Army Achievers in International Sports". army.lk. Sri Lanka Army. Retrieved 22 September 2022.
  4. 1 2 "New Lankan mystery: Maheesh Theekshana all set to carry Mendis' legacy of unconventional spin forward". The Indian Express. 20 October 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  5. ↑ "IPL 2022: 'Used to weigh 107 kgs', CSK spinner Maheesh Theekshana opens up on his U-19 fitness struggles". Firstpost. 11 May 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  6. ↑ Sridheran, Sharmeegan (10 September 2021). "The survival of the Mysterious Maheesh". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  7. ↑ "'I was 117 kg,' CSK spinner Maheesh Theekshana shares his fitness struggle - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  8. ↑ "Group B, Premier Limited Over Tournament at Colombo, Mar 14 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 March 2018.
  9. ↑ "Group B, Premier League Tournament Tier A at Colombo, Dec 7-9 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 December 2018.
  10. ↑ "Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  11. ↑ Weerasinghe, Damith (22 October 2021). "Theekshana grateful for Army's contribution towards cricket". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  12. ↑ Nadeera, Dilshan. "Maheesh Theekshana: from rags to riches" . Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  13. ↑ "Sri Lanka Cricket announce Invitational T20 squads and schedule". The Papare. 4 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  14. ↑ "Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews miss out on LPL drafts". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 November 2021.
  15. ↑ "IPL 2022 auction: The list of sold and unsold players". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  16. ↑ Ratnaweera, Dhammika. "Maheesh Theekshana youngest bowler to take a four wicket haul in IPL". Daily News. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  17. ↑ "Canny Theekshana brings bowling respite for CSK". Cricbuzz. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  18. ↑ "LPL 2022 draft: Kandy Falcons sign Hasaranga; Rajapaksa to turn out for Dambulla Giants". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  19. ↑ "Hasaranga, Theekshana, Brevis set for maiden CPL stints". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  20. ↑ "CSK old boys du Plessis and Fleming to be Jo'burg Super Kings' captain and coach". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  21. ↑ "CSK-owned Johannesburg signs Maheesh Theekshana for South Africa T20 League". www.adaderana.lk. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  22. ↑ "Kusal Perera back in limited-overs squads after recovering from Covid-19". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  23. ↑ Weerasinghe, Damith (30 August 2021). "Sri Lanka announce 22-man squad for South Africa series". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
  24. ↑ "3rd ODI (D/N), Colombo (RPS), Sep 7 2021, South Africa tour of Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  25. ↑ "Proteas' batting collapse hands ODI series victory to Sri Lanka". News24. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  26. ↑ "Debutant Maheesh Theekshana spins Sri Lanka to series victory". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  27. ↑ "Chameera, debutant Theekshana shine as Sri Lanka clinch series decider". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 8 September 2021.
  28. ↑ "ODI Debut for Maheesh Theekshana - SLs 1st International Player born in 21st Century". Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  29. ↑ "1st T20I (N), Colombo (RPS), Sep 10 2021, South Africa tour of Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  30. ↑ "Theekshana and Rajapaksa surprise picks in Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 September 2021.
  31. ↑ AFP. "T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka pick Maheesh Theekshana in 15-member squad, Dasun Shanaka named captain". Scroll.in. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  32. ↑ "Australia on alert for new Sri Lankan mystery spinner". cricket.com.au. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  33. ↑ ICC (15 June 2022). "Maheesh Theekshana attains career-best eighth place in ICC Men's T20I Player Ranking". ThePapare.com. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  34. ↑ "Maheesh Theekshana and Dunith Wellalage called into Sri Lanka Test squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 5 July 2022.
  35. ↑ "2nd Test, Galle, July 08 - 12, 2022, Australia tour of Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 8 July 2022.
  36. ↑ "Sri Lanka announce squad for Asia Cup 2022". www.icc-cricket.com. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  37. ↑ "Rizwan displaces Babar as No. 1 T20I batter in ICC men's rankings". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  38. ↑ "Men's T20 Asia Cup, 2022 Cricket Team Records & Stats". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
  39. ↑ "CHENNAI FANS OUTRAGED!". The Morning - Sri Lanka News. 17 February 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.