Sri Lanka’s rising star has been announced as the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2024
August was remarkable for Sri Lanka, having Dunith Wellalage winning the ICC Men’s Player of the Month. Harshita Madavi, Sri Lankan Women’s Cricket Team player on the other hand, has also been awarded ICC Women’s Player of the Month.
With Dunith Wellalage and Harshita Madavi, this is the second time that two players from the same country have won the Player of the Month award in the same month, following Jasprit Bumrah and Smriti Mandhana’s victory in June.
The 21-year-old all-rounder beat South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj and West Indies Jayden Seales to win this accolade. ICC Men’s Player of the Month award went to Dunith Wellalage after he performed brilliantly against India. Earlier in March 2024, Kamindu Mendis won the ICC Men’s Player of the Month.
India had already won its position with a 3-0 T20I series win against Sri Lanka but Wellalage’s left-handed batting style enabled him to score 108 runs and pick up seven wickets which helped The Lions to defeat Men in Blue.
On achieving this award, Wellalage expressed his joy, stating, This recognition gives me further strength to continue doing the good work I do as a player and contribute to my team to reach excellence in the field,” Wellalage said after winning the award.”
Being a versatile player, he managed to achieve this feat in his home country by scoring his career-best 67*, 39, 2 runs and taking seven wickets including an impressive 5-wicket haul in the third ODI after a 2-0 victory over India.
Wellalage further added in his winning speech, “Recognition such as this, coming from the International Cricket Council, is great news for young players like us and will certainly encourage young players in the game.”
This is not the first instance when the player has been instrumental in the sport. Earlier, in the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, Dunith Wellalage headed the Sri Lanka Men’s team and finished as the top wicket-taker.
Wellalage also offered his gratitude and thanks to his teammates, parents, friends, and relatives for their support in his journey. With this month’s win, this has become the 5th time a Sri Lankan has won the Player of the Month award, with previous players including Angelo Mathews and Wanindu Hasaranga.
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