The Indian cricket workforce defeated Sri Lanka to e-book their spot within the Asia Cup 2023 last however the efficiency from younger spinner Dunith Wellalage earned him reward from each consultants and followers alike. He took an excellent five-wicket haul that included the prized wickets of Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma after which performed a gritty knock of 42 from 46 deliveries to virtually take his facet to victory. Although he fell quick, Wellalage acquired an enormous praise from legendary Sri Lanka pacer Lasith Malinga.

Malinga took to social media to say that contemplating the all-round efficiency of Wellalage, it felt like Sri Lanka had been enjoying with 12 gamers and even predicted that he is usually a huge star sooner or later.

“It’s fair to say that SL played with 12 players today. That’s how good Dunith was,” Malinga wrote on X (previously Twitter). “He’s got a brilliant head on his young shoulders to go with his all-round skill set. I believe he’s on his way to becoming the most important player for SL in ODIs for the next decade.”

It’s fair to say that SL played with 12 players today. That’s how good Dunith was
He’s got a brilliant head on his young shoulders to go with his all-round skill set.
I believe he’s on his way to becoming the most important player for SL in ODIs for the next decade#INDvSL

— Lasith Malinga (@malinga_ninety9) September 12, 2023

“For me, Virat Kohli is the No. 1 batsman. I am very happy to have got those two (Kohli and Rohit) big wickets. I trust my basics, and trust myself,” said Wellalage in the post-match press meet.

The 20-year-old said he was trying to bowl a wicket-to-wicket line against a set of experienced batsmen.

“The batters were set and India had got off to a fabulous start. I just tried to bowl wicket to wicket. Once we got those three wickets in three overs, we were able to put India under pressure.

“There was turn and when you put the ball in the right area, you could unsettle the batsmen. But I would have been happier with a win,” said Wellalage.

(With PTI inputs)