Dunith Wellalage Named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2024
Sri Lanka’s rising star, Dunith Wellalage, has been named the ICC Men’s Player of the Month for August 2024, following his outstanding all-round performance against India. At just 21 years old, Wellalage’s remarkable achievements on the field have already made him one of the most exciting talents in international cricket. He becomes the second Sri Lankan player to win the prestigious award this year, after teammate Kamindu Mendis, who won in March.
Wellalage’s stellar performance came during Sri Lanka’s historic ODI series victory over India in August. This marked the first time Sri Lanka had defeated India in a bilateral ODI series since 1997. Wellalage played a key role in this triumph, contributing with both bat and ball across the three-match series. He scored 108 runs and took seven wickets, helping Sri Lanka overturn India’s dominance, despite India being the heavy favourites following their 3-0 sweep in the T20I series.
In the first ODI, Wellalage delivered a career-best unbeaten 67*, and followed it up by taking crucial wickets, including those of Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, in a thrilling tie. His all-round display set the tone for the rest of the series. In the second ODI, his fighting 39 helped Sri Lanka reach a competitive score of 240/9, leading to a victory that stunned the Indian team. While he didn’t make an impact with the bat in the third game, Wellalage was unstoppable with the ball, securing career-best figures of 5/27. His spell included the prized wickets of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shreyas Iyer, completely dismantling India’s batting lineup.
Wellalage’s performance was all the more impressive considering India had fielded their top players, including Kohli and Sharma, making Sri Lanka’s series victory even more significant. His contributions at critical moments proved crucial in Sri Lanka’s success and earned him the Player of the Month recognition.
Upon receiving the award, Wellalage expressed his gratitude, saying, “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 on the field. I thank my teammates, parents, friends, and everyone who supported me.”
Adding to Sri Lanka’s joy, Harshita Samarawickrama was also named ICC Women’s Player of the Month for August, making it a double celebration for the island nation.
With his remarkable performances, Wellalage has established himself as a key player for Sri Lanka, and fans will be eagerly watching as he continues to make his mark in international cricket.