Kariyawasam Indipalage Charith Asalanka, born on June 29, 1997, is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who represents the national team in all three formats of the game. He also holds the position of vice-captain for the national team in T20I. As a left-handed batsman, Asalanka marked his international debut for Sri Lanka in June 2021. Renowned for his powerful and effective batting, he primarily occupies the No. 5 position in the lineup. He has been appointed as the captain of the Sri Lanka cricket team after Dasun Shanaka stepped down. So far, he has been brilliant with the bat and recently scored a magnificent century against Australia in the first ODI.
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Charith Asalanka Wife – Kavindika Asalanka
Charith Asalanka tied the knot with Kavindika Asalanka on November 28, 2022, making her his wife.
Kavindika Igalavithana is the maiden name of Charith Asalanka wife. She is a teacher by profession. Kavindika teaches young school kids.
She has more than 6000 followers on Instagram and often posts photos with her husband.
Charith Asalanka Parents & Siblings
Charith Asalanka’s family includes his father, Vijith Priyanth, who is a businessman, his mother, Tanuja, who is a housewife, and two siblings, a brother and a sister.
Also read: Sadeera Samarawickrama Wife, Parents, Siblings, Career
Charith Asalanka Career
Charith Asalanka’s journey in cricket has been marked by impressive achievements. In 2013, he opened the batting and was the top scorer in both innings, notching 92 and 31 runs in a three-day match against an English under-17 team at Loughborough. He continued his stellar performance by opening for his school, Richmond College, Galle, during the 2014–15 season, guiding them to the final of the schools’ twenty-20 competition.
In 2014–15, he captained the national under-19 team against Australia and Bangladesh, emerging as Sri Lanka’s top run-scorer and the second-highest wicket-taker in a five-match limited-overs series against Bangladesh under-19, displaying consistent excellence. His exceptional performance was most notable in Sri Lanka’s victory in the first match, with figures of 4 for 36 and a score of 63.
Asalanka’s talent and leadership skills were further acknowledged when he was awarded the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award in both 2015 and 2016, becoming only the seventh player to win the award twice.
In October 2015, he captained Sri Lanka under-19 against Pakistan under-19, accumulating 334 runs at an astonishing average of 167.00, including a double-century and a century. He continued to lead Sri Lanka in the 2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup.
In November 2018, he was added to Sri Lanka’s Test squad for their series against England. In December 2018, he was named the captain of the Sri Lanka team for the 2018 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup. He retained the captaincy for the 2019 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Bangladesh and the cricket tournament at the 2019 South Asian Games, where Sri Lanka secured the silver medal.
Asalanka’s international career continued to flourish, highlighted by his pivotal role in various ODI and T20I matches. His consistent performance included a stunning century in an ODI against Australia, multiple ODI half-centuries, and an exceptional performance during a T20I super over against New Zealand. His achievements extended into 2023 with several impressive ODI half-centuries and a crucial knock in the Asia Cup match against Bangladesh.
Notably, his remarkable 10th ODI half-century was achieved during the World Cup match against South Africa, where he scored 79 runs from 65 deliveries. Despite his efforts, Sri Lanka couldn’t secure a victory.
Charith Asalanka was appointed as the new skipper for the series after Wanindu Hasaranga decided to step down following the T20 World Cup 2024. Soon after, he was also given the captaincy of the 50-over format.
FAQ’s
- Who is Charith Asalanka?
Charith Asalanka is a Sri Lankan cricketer who plays in all three formats for the national team. He is a left-handed batsman and has also been appointed as the captain of Sri Lanka after Dasun Shanaka stepped down. - Who is Charith Asalanka’s wife?
Charith Asalanka is married to Kavindika Asalanka (née Igalavithana). She is a teacher by profession and often shares pictures with her husband on social media. - What are Charith Asalanka’s major achievements in cricket?
Charith Asalanka has been a standout performer in Sri Lankan cricket, captaining the U-19 team and winning the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year award twice. He has played key innings in ODIs and T20Is, including a stunning century against Australia. - Who are Charith Asalanka’s parents and siblings?
Charith Asalanka’s father, Vijith Priyanth, is a businessman, while his mother, Tanuja, is a housewife. He has two siblings, a brother and a sister. - When did Charith Asalanka become Sri Lanka’s captain?
Charith Asalanka was appointed as Sri Lanka’s captain after Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down following the T20 World Cup 2024. He later took over the leadership in ODIs as well.
