Dasun Shanaka and Sri Lanka's Cricket Revival

Dasun Shanaka became Sri Lanka's white-ball captain in 2021 and oversaw one of the most unexpected title wins of recent years — the 2022 Asia Cup — with a young, largely unheralded squad. His captaincy period coincided with Sri Lanka's transition away from the golden generation of Sangakkara, Jayawardene, and Dilshan.

Background and rise

Born on October 19, 1991, in Kandy, Shanaka is a hard-hitting lower-order batter and seam-bowling all-rounder. He debuted in 2015 but became indispensable in white-ball cricket from 2019 onwards. His aggressive batting at No. 6 or 7 gave Sri Lanka innings-finishing capability they had lacked.

2022 Asia Cup — the defining moment

Sri Lanka won the 2022 Asia Cup in the UAE, defeating Pakistan in the final by 23 runs. The tournament was played in T20 format. Sri Lanka were the tournament's best team throughout — Wanindu Hasaranga took 15 wickets and Bhanuka Rajapaksa scored crucial runs. The win was Sri Lanka's sixth Asia Cup title and their first since 2014.

Young guns: Hasaranga, Nissanka, Rajapaksa

Under Shanaka's captaincy, Sri Lanka blooded several exciting young players. Wanindu Hasaranga became a top-ranked T20 bowler globally. Pathum Nissanka emerged as a reliable Test opener. Bhanuka Rajapaksa played match-winning T20 innings before retiring. Maheesh Theekshana developed into a genuine Test wicket-taker.

Challenges and transition

Sri Lanka's Test cricket has been inconsistent — they struggled to convert promising individual performances into series wins. The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (SLC) has faced governance challenges and selection inconsistencies. Shanaka's own form dipped after 2022, leading to questions about whether a younger leader should take over. Sri Lanka remain capable of beating any team on their day, particularly at home.