By Srian Obeyesekere
Sadeera Samarawickrama was Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup, with 373 runs from 9 innings with a highest of 108 against Pakistan off 89 balls inclusive of 11 boundaries and 2 sixes. He averaged a pleasing 53.28.
He was overall placed 17th among the top batters of the world cup which was led by Virat Kohli. He came very close to a second ton in the extravaganza falling for 91 off 107 balls in Sri Lanka’s 5-wicket win over the Netherlands it was his sixth such half century. Overall, he has scored 988 ODI runs from 32 appearances and 29 innings averaging 38.0 with a strike rate of 94.46.
Having made his ODI debut in 2017, Samarawickrama faded off having not really made the mark as an opener, but was back with a bang a year ago following a rollicking run leading Sri Lanka A. It led to his rejuvenation as an altogether remade batter whose exquisite stroke making has brought a degree of balance to the Lankan top order in both formats of the game.
His reappearance has been marked with a newness that has conspicuously seen the 28-year old Colts CC right-hander, who is strong on the off side, having worked on strengthening his play on the leg side as well as a compact force.
