Danushka Gunathilaka

An attacking left handed opening batsman and an occasional offbreak, Danushka Gunathilaka is currently being seen as an option at the top of the order. His major claim to fame was the 'A' series to New Zealand he was a part of in the 2015 season. With impressive scores, the selectors rewarded him with a place in the national squad against the West Indies later in the year. He owed his debut to Kusal Perera getting the axe due to the drug problem. Injuries though plagued him just when he was about to seal his spot missing out on tours in the following year.

His claim to fame moment came in the Champions Trophy of 2017. Left out of the initial squad and brought in only as a desperate replacement, he impressed in the very first outing. Opening the batting only a day after he arrived in England, against the per-tournament favourites India, chasing a record total of 322, in a must-win game, he smashed the bowlers all around to set the foundation with a 72-ball 76 in helping his side walk over the total.

He started off playing at the under-19s level in the 2010 U-19 World Cup and followed it up with a few solid years in the domestic circuit for Colombo Cricket Club. With a particularly aggressive approach to the game with shots all around the park, he remains a vital option at the top of the order, especially with the team in the rebuilding phase.

Vineet Anantharaman