Wanindu Hasaranga Dreams To Pick ‘Favourite Batsman’ Virat Kohli’s Wicket

Young Sri Lankan leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga dreams to pick up the wicket of talismanic run-scorer Virat Kohli, who is his favourite cricketer.

The 24-year-old cricketer is on a wicket-taking spree in the ongoing Lanka Premier League playing for the Jaffna Kings. He has picked up five wicket from three matches so far with the best figures of 3/16.

When asked to name the batters who he wishes to dismiss in his career, Wanindu Hasaranga without hesitating named Kohli along with Glenn Maxwell and Babar Azam.

“I would love to get my favourite cricketer Virat Kohli’s wicket someday. I also want to pick Babar Azam and Glenn Maxwell’s wickets as well,” Hasaranga said to ANI. 

Incidentally, Hasaranga has shared the dressing room alongside Glenn Maxwell and Virat Kohli in Royal Challengers Bangalore in IPL 2021. While the franchise has not retained him for the next season, the leg-spinner will be on the radar on many team during IPL 2022 auction.

“When I am bowling, I always try to take wickets” – Wanindu Hasaranga

The 24-year-old Hasaranga finished as the highest wicket-taker in the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 where he scalped 16 wickets from eight games. He stressed that he aims to pick wickets every time he goes out to bowl.

“When I am bowling, I always try to take wickets. When I am in the national team, I always try to do my best for the team. That’s why I am successful. I am always motivated to perform. I don’t feel any pressure. I don’t want to be the next Muralitharan or the next Herath. I want to be the first Hasaranga,” he said.

Wanindu Hasaranga has come up the ranks very quickly in recent times and will be one of the force to reckon with in the future.