Sri Lanka’s veteran opening batsman Upul Tharanga has drawn curtains on his 15-year old international career. Upul Tharanga has not played for the national team since March 2019. The left-handed batsman, who was part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad in 2007 and 2011 that reached the finals, posted an emotional message, thanking the cricket board for all the opportunities, reports India based Cricket Addictor.
Upul Tharanga’s strongest suit was One-day international cricket in which he featured in 235 ODIs and scored 6951 runs at 33.74 along with 15 centuries and 37 fifties. The 36-year old shone in the 2011 World Cup, hosted by India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka – a tournament in which he forged a prolific opening stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan. Tharanga managed 395 runs in nine matches at 56.43 with two centuries and a half-century.
Out of the 223 innings in ODIs, Tharanga opened the innings in 189 of them, mustering 6077 runs at that position, averaging 33.95 with 15 tons and 30 fifties. The southpaw also featured in 31 Tests and 26 Tests; however, he could not make an impact that strongly. In the longest format of the game, he managed three centuries and eight fifties while in the shortest version, Tharanga’s highest score was 47.
Upul Tharanga's statement as follows:
My Dear Friends,
As the good old saying goes “All good things must come to an end”, I believe it is time for me to bid farewell to my International Cricket Career after over 15 years of giving the game my all.
I leave behind a road traveled with fond memories and great friendships. I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for always having faith and the trust vested in me. I am grateful to the many Cricket Loving Fans, friends And my family for standing by me during my highest of highs and even at my lowest points in my career. Your well-wishes and messages of encouragement was easily the drive behind my ambition. For that I thank you all, and I wish you well.
I would like to wish Sri Lanka Cricket all the very best for the future and I am hopeful that the team will bounce back strong soon.