Sri Lanka cricketer Upul Tharanga has decided to retire from International Cricket.
Upul Tharanga is a naturally gifted left-handed opening batsman. When in full flow, Tharanga is capable of playing some delightful strokes. He is also a handy wicket-keeper. He was spotted as a youngster and was a regular member of Sri Lanka's U-15, U-17 and U-19 sides. Some stellar performances in the 2004 U-19 World Cup helped him win a spot in the 'A' side.
Tharanga left a note on his FB page saying;
As the good old saying goes "All good things must come to an end", I believe it is time for me to bid farewell to my International Cricket Career after over 15 years of giving the game my all.
I leave behind a road traveled with fond memories and great friendships. I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for always having faith and the trust vested in me. I am grateful to the many Cricket Loving Fans, friends And my family for standing by me during my highest of highs and even at my lowest points in my career. Your well-wishes and messages of encouragement was easily the drive behind my ambition. For that I thank you all, and I wish you well.
I would like to wish Sri Lanka Cricket all the very best for the future and I am hopeful that the team will bounce back strong soon.
Thank you all!????????
Tharanga is the second batsman in the world who was involved with 7 times 200+ partnerships in ODI cricket after Ricky Ponting.
On 2 July 2013, Upul Tharanga scored the second highest ODI score of 174* by a Sri Lankan. With that innings he became the 9th Sri Lankan player to pass 5000 runs margin. Despite of his low match participation, he has earned 15 centuries and 12 man of the match titles for his name throughout his international career.
Tharanga was selected as Sri Lankan captain, to lead them in ODI tri series in Zimbabwe on 5 November 2016. On 14 November 2016, he led Sri Lankan team for the first time in an ODI against Zimbabwe, which was won comfortably by 8 wickets. At the end, Sri Lanka won the tri-series by defeating the hosts Zimbabwe in the final by 6 wickets. Tharanga was also the 19th captain for Sri Lanka in ODIs
On 9 February 2017, Tharanga was named as the T20I captain for Sri Lanka during the 3-T20I tour for Australia. Tharanga was also the 8th captain for Sri Lanka in T20Is. Under Upul Tharanga's captaincy,Sri Lanka went on to win the T20I series against Australia in Australia,which means this was the record 3rd consecutive time Sri Lanka managed to win the T20I series against Australia in Australia.
On 28 March 2017, he played in his 200th ODI match, when Sri Lanka played Bangladesh. In the match he scored his 31st fifty.
On 16 October 2017, Tharanga became the first batsman for Sri Lanka, and the first captain overall, to carry his bat in an ODI.
In his third Test match he scored his first Test Century. Tharanga made his ODI debut against West Indies in 2005. He scored his first ODI century in 2005 against Bangladesh scoring 105 in R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. His highest ODI score came in 2013 against India where he scored 174 Not out at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Tharanga has scored three Test centuries and 15 ODI centuries.
Upul Tharanga is a naturally gifted left-handed opening batsman. When in full flow, Tharanga is capable of playing some delightful strokes. He is also a handy wicket-keeper. He was spotted as a youngster and was a regular member of Sri Lanka's U-15, U-17 and U-19 sides. Some stellar performances in the 2004 U-19 World Cup helped him win a spot in the 'A' side.
Tharanga left a note on his FB page saying;
As the good old saying goes "All good things must come to an end", I believe it is time for me to bid farewell to my International Cricket Career after over 15 years of giving the game my all.
I leave behind a road traveled with fond memories and great friendships. I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for always having faith and the trust vested in me. I am grateful to the many Cricket Loving Fans, friends And my family for standing by me during my highest of highs and even at my lowest points in my career. Your well-wishes and messages of encouragement was easily the drive behind my ambition. For that I thank you all, and I wish you well.
I would like to wish Sri Lanka Cricket all the very best for the future and I am hopeful that the team will bounce back strong soon.
Thank you all!????????
Tharanga is the second batsman in the world who was involved with 7 times 200+ partnerships in ODI cricket after Ricky Ponting.
On 2 July 2013, Upul Tharanga scored the second highest ODI score of 174* by a Sri Lankan. With that innings he became the 9th Sri Lankan player to pass 5000 runs margin. Despite of his low match participation, he has earned 15 centuries and 12 man of the match titles for his name throughout his international career.
Tharanga was selected as Sri Lankan captain, to lead them in ODI tri series in Zimbabwe on 5 November 2016. On 14 November 2016, he led Sri Lankan team for the first time in an ODI against Zimbabwe, which was won comfortably by 8 wickets. At the end, Sri Lanka won the tri-series by defeating the hosts Zimbabwe in the final by 6 wickets. Tharanga was also the 19th captain for Sri Lanka in ODIs
On 9 February 2017, Tharanga was named as the T20I captain for Sri Lanka during the 3-T20I tour for Australia. Tharanga was also the 8th captain for Sri Lanka in T20Is. Under Upul Tharanga's captaincy,Sri Lanka went on to win the T20I series against Australia in Australia,which means this was the record 3rd consecutive time Sri Lanka managed to win the T20I series against Australia in Australia.
On 28 March 2017, he played in his 200th ODI match, when Sri Lanka played Bangladesh. In the match he scored his 31st fifty.
On 16 October 2017, Tharanga became the first batsman for Sri Lanka, and the first captain overall, to carry his bat in an ODI.
In his third Test match he scored his first Test Century. Tharanga made his ODI debut against West Indies in 2005. He scored his first ODI century in 2005 against Bangladesh scoring 105 in R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. His highest ODI score came in 2013 against India where he scored 174 Not out at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica. Tharanga has scored three Test centuries and 15 ODI centuries.
