Shehan Jayasuriya

There are certain pre-conditions that come with the name jayasuriya in Sri Lanka - hard-hitting, left-handed, top-order batsman. Without quite the blood relation with his older and more famous namesake, Shehan Jayasuriya has his style and approach modeled on Sanath.

A batsman marked out for limited overs, thanks to his aggressive approach, he was handed his T20I cap against Pakistan in 2015. Unfortunately, the international journey so far did not go as per plan, to do justice to his talent. His ODI debut was marred by a duck. In the handful of appearances before he was dropped, he did showcase an ability to wield the long handle and strike some lusty blows, with shots all around the ground.

The jump to international reckoning came through a host of domestic and T20 leagues where he ended up playing for sides like Chittagong Kings, Kandurata Maroons, Moors Sports Club and the Police Sports Club.

Thanks to a strong showing in the 2018 domestic season, where he emerged as the leading run-getter and the Man of the Series in the Premier Limited Overs Tournament, he made it back to the national fold for the tour to Pakistan in 2019. He impressed immediately with a 96 fighting in a lost cause, churning out a record 177-run stand with Dasun Shanaka, the highest stand against Pakistan in ODIs. 

Vineet Anantharaman