By Srian Obeyesekere
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Janith Perera made cricket rocket science by scoring centuries in all three formats of the game by his 44-ball maiden T20 century against New Zealand in equating his rare feat in the 34-year old left hander belying age in decorating himself in the rare feat befitting terminology catch words that go with it from the phenomenal to the extraordinary, Sky High’, ‘Out of this World’ and what not, characterized by the daredevil express mannerism he got about it.
That it goes beyond that rarity to becoming the first Sri Lankan to score a T20 century in 14 long years since compatriot Tillakaratne Dilshan did so in 2011 and the third Lankan after Mahela Jayawardena (100 off 64 in 2010 vs Zimbabwe), in the mellowing years of his career which is generally the drawing line to calling time on playing is typically a saga akin to old wine flowing strong. It is indeed a long running train of the elite hall of fame magical odyssey of a truly heroic pantheon. He thus became the 28th Cricketer to score centuries in all three formats.
He thus became the third Lankan to score centuries in all three formats after Dilshan and Jayawardena. Sri Lanka Women’s captain Chamari Athapaththu has scored three T20I hundreds – 113 in 2019, 102 and 119 not out in 2024.
It is also significant that the Lankan’s big show three figure doings have been on foreign terrain. His epoch test match winning 153 came in South Africa’s backyard in Durban in 2019 when he braved the odds to achieving it with last man Vishwa Fernando in a record 10th wicket 70 odd partnership.
Kusal Janith’s scored his highest ODI ton 135 against Ireland in Dublin in 2016.
His career record since having made his International debut against Australia on January 13 in ODIs at Adelaide counts 2 test centuries and 7 half centuries aggregating 1177 runs from 41 innings and 22 appearances, and 6 ODI tons and 17 half centuries with 3237 runs from 116 matches and 111 innings, and the 1 T20 century in 2025 from 76 innings and 77 games scoring 2056 runs in all.
