Mumbai Indians (MI) have a new weapon in their arsenal, and his name is Nuwan Thushara. This young fast bowler from Sri Lanka has taken the cricketing world by storm with his unique bowling style and impressive pace.

When Hardik Pandya won the toss against Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 38 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the MI skipper named three changes by including Nuwan, Nehal Wadhera and Piyush Chawla in place of Akash Madhwal, Romario Shepherd and Shreyas Gopal.

Among the three changes, Thushara’s name captured maximum attention as fans were left wondering who the new talent is. On that note, let’s have a look at some interesting facts you might not know about the Sri Lankan pacer.

Facts about Nuwan Thushara

Malinga’s Mini-Me

Thushara’s slinging action has earned him the nickname “Podi Malinga,” which translates to “Little Malinga” in Sinhalese. The resemblance to the legendary Lasith Malinga is uncanny, and both bowlers share the ability to generate awkward bounce and movement off the pitch.

From Soft-Ball to Stardom

Believe it or not, Thushara honed his skills playing soft-ball cricket in Colombo! His transition to leather-ball cricket has been remarkable, culminating in a stellar performance at the 2023 Asian Games that thrust him into the spotlight.

Late Bloomer, Big Impact

At 29 years old (as of April 2024), Thushara is a bit of a late bloomer on the international scene. However, his impact has been undeniable. His ability to take wickets at crucial moments makes him a valuable asset for the Sri Lankan national team.

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IPL Breakout

Thushara’s talent didn’t go unnoticed for long. Mumbai, one of the most successful IPL franchises, snapped him up in the 2024 auction for a whopping INR 4.8 crore. This is a testament to his potential and the high regard in which he’s held.

Domestic Stint

Thushara’s journey in domestic cricket began with his first-class debut for Sinhalese Sports Club during the 2015–16 Premier League Tournament on December 26, 2015. He stepped into List A cricket representing Colombo Cricket Club in the 2017–18 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on March 10, 2018.

Franchise cricket

Notably, Thushara was enlisted by the Galle Gladiators for the inaugural Lanka Premier League (LPL) in October 2020. His impressive performance earned him a spot in the SLC Greens team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament in August 2021. Later that year, he was once again picked by the Galle Gladiators during the players’ draft for the LPL 2021 in November. His momentum continued as he signed with the Galle Gladiators for the third edition of the tournament.

International career

In January 2022, his name was inked into the roster of Sri Lanka’s ODI squad for Zimbabwe. Within the same lunar cycle, he secured his berth in the T20I squad. Moving to the timeline of February 2024, his designation in Sri Lanka’s T20I squad for their journey to Bangladesh was confirmed. It was on March 9, 2024, during the third T20I encounter, that he etched his name in history by achieving his premier hat-trick in T20Is, joining the ranks of Sri Lanka’s elite bowlers.

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