Nuwan Thushara Biography, Age, Height, Career, Net Worth
Nuwan Thushara is a specialist Sri Lankan cricketer who has gained fame on the strength of his distinctive bowling action, much like Sri Lanka's all-time great pacer Lasith Malinga. He was born on 6th August, 1994, in Thalawa, Sri Lanka. Thushara has become a force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket, both internationally as well as in franchise cricket.
Early Life and Domestic Career
Having begun in humble beginnings in Thalawa, Nuwan Thushara began his cricketing journey by playing tennis-ball cricket and eventually progressed to playing leather-ball cricket. His List A debut came in March 2018 for the Colombo Cricket Club. Possessing a silky action, Thushara started making waves in the domestic circuit with steady performances.
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He represented different franchise and domestic sides over the years, such as Galle Gladiators and SLC Greens, and displayed his skills of taking key wickets and being effective in the death overs. His performances for the Lanka Premier League and other series were major reasons behind his entry into the national team.
International Career
Thushara's international cricket debut was when he played his first T20I match for Sri Lanka against Australia on February 13, 2022. Although he started quietly, he came into the limelight on March 9, 2024, playing a T20I match against Bangladesh. In the game, he created a record five-wicket haul, with a hat-trick, making him just the fifth Sri Lankan to have a hat-trick in T20 Internationals.
As of 2025, he has played 18 T20Is and has 26 wickets to his name at an incredible average of 16.73. His best figures are 5/20, which indicate his match-winning potential in the shorter formats.
IPL and Franchise Cricket
Thushara's distinctive slinging style and capability to bowl precision yorkers secured him a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL). In the next season, he was bought by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for INR 1.6 crore.
Besides the IPL, he has played for various franchise sides like MI Cape Town in South Africa, Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League, and Dubai Capitals in the ILT20. His performances in the different leagues have made him a consistent death-over specialist.
Playing Style and Nickname
Dubbed "Podi Malinga" (Little Malinga), Thushara has been credited with imitating Lasith Malinga's bowling style but with his touch. He is dependent on yorkers, slower balls, and precision to mislead batters in the T20 format.
Net Worth
As of early 2025, Nuwan Thushara's net worth can be estimated at more than USD 2 million. His revenues derive from match fees received from Sri Lanka Cricket (about USD 40,000), IPL contracts, and revenues from other franchise leagues.
Personal Life
Nuwan Thushara has two elder brothers and they remain unmarried. In his free time from cricket, he enjoys reading, traveling, and connecting with fans on social media sites like Instagram and Twitter.
As his career rockets forward, Nuwan Thushara is one of Sri Lanka's most exciting bowling prospects and a shining new face in international cricket.
