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| Full name | Morawakage Maheesh Theekshana | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (2000-08-01)1 August 2000 (age 25) Colombo,Sri Lanka | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-armoff break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 161) | 8 July 2022 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 16 July 2022 v Pakistan | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODI debut (cap 202) | 7 September 2021 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last ODI | 31 August 2025 v Zimbabwe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| T20I debut (cap 90) | 10 September 2021 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last T20I | 28 September 2025 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020–2023 | Jaffna Kings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022–2024 | Chennai Super Kings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022 | Trinbago Knight Riders | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023–present | Barbados Royals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024; 2026 | Sharjah Warriorz | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2024–present | Galle Marvels | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Joburg Super Kings | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025 | Rajasthan Royals | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Source:ESPNcricinfo,28 September 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Morawakage Maheesh Theekshana (born 1 August 2000), is a professional Sri Lankan cricketer who plays all three formats of the game forSri Lanka national cricket team. He made his international debut for Sri Lanka in September 2021. Regarded as one of the best limited overs bowlers in the world, his bowling action resembles that of former Sri Lankan mystery spinnerAjantha Mendis, who coincidentally happened to be his mentor with theSri Lanka Army Sports Club, whom he has represented in the Sri Lankan domestic game.[1] As of today he is ranked byICC as the number one bowler in One Day Internationals.[citation needed]
He is known for bowling spin at high speeds that exceeds 100 km/h and for bowlingyorkers by a spinner, which makes difficult for the batsman to face. He is also a handylower-order batsman.
Theekshana grew up with his grandmother and hailed from Siddhartha Vidyalaya, Sedawatta. Two of the old boys fromSt. Benedict's College, Colombo requested the guardian of Theekshana to switch their location toKotahena in order to make Theekshana play school cricket representing St. Benedict's College. The Cricket Wing of St. Benedict's volunteered to look after his finances in the first two years and later the St. Benedict's College granted him a scholarship offer. He repaid the faith by winning the All Island Best All Rounder Award during his final year at St. Benedict's College.[2]
Theekshana joined theSri Lanka Army, following basic training he served as aPrivate in theGajaba Regiment and played for the Sri Lanka Army cricket team. Following the Asia Cup Championship in 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant.[3]
After having impressed with the ball at school level, he was called for trials by the National Cricket Academy atR. Premadasa Stadium. He subsequently impressed the spin bowling coaches and director of cricket at National Cricket Academy, Simon Willis with his control, accuracy, bounce, variations in addition to his Ajantha Mendis alike bowling action.[4] However, he was under scrutiny for his body weight as at one stage he weighed at 105 kilograms, 140 skin-folds and he also faced difficulties to pass fitness tests as he took 10.1 minutes to complete the two-kilometre tests and also produced sub par YOYO test conducted by Sri Lanka Cricket.[5] He was also omitted from Sri Lankan U-19 squad for the2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup on the basis of fitness issues.[6] According to some sources, Theekshana had weighed around 117 kilograms during his U19 days.[7]
Theekshana made hisList A debut forColts Cricket Club in the2017–18 Premier Limited Overs Tournament on 14 March 2018.[8] He made hisfirst-class debut for Colts Cricket Club in the2018–19 Premier League Tournament on 7 December 2018.[9] In October 2020, he was drafted by theJaffna Stallions for theinaugural edition of theLanka Premier League.[10] He joined Sri Lanka Army in 2020 and transformed him completely as he began adhering to strict food diets and worked hard on improving his fitness levels. He also subsequently reduced his weight as per the level of expectations levelled on him in order to pursue his cricketing ambitions. By 2020, he had dropped 22 kilograms and halved his skinfold levels. He also improved his two-kilometer run within 10 minutes and improved his YOYO test maximum from 16.1 to 19.2.[4] He trained under Ajantha Mendis who was his first coach with Sri Lanka Army when he joined Army's U-23 side. He was picked in 2020 Lanka Premier League on the back with his impressive performances at 2020 Army Commander's Cup.[11] He initially didn't make the cut for the 2020 Lanka Premier League draft and he was categorized in supplementary category which made him ineligible to play. However, with the recommendation ofThisara Perera he was promoted from supplementary category to emerging category in Jaffna Stallions squad for the 2020 LPL season after the request was accepted by SLC.[12]
In August 2021, Theekshana was named in the SLC Blues team for the2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament.[13] In November 2021, he was selected to play for theJaffna Kings following the players' draft for the2021 Lanka Premier League.[14] he ended tournament with highest wicket taker ofLanka Premier League 2021.
In February 2022, he was bought by theChennai Super Kings in theauction for the2022 Indian Premier League tournament.[15] During the 2022 edition of the Tata IPL, he brokeRohit Sharma's record to become the youngest ever bowler to take a four-wicket haul in an IPL match as he achieved the landmark at the age of 21 years and 255 days againstRoyal Challengers Bangalore.[16][17] In July 2022, he was signed by theJaffna Kings for thethird edition of theLanka Premier League.[18] In July 2022, he was signed byTrinbago Knight Riders for the2022 Caribbean Premier League.[19]
In August 2022, he was picked up by Johannesburg Super Kings for the inaugural edition of the South Africa's CSA T20 League which was held in 2023.[20][21]
Following Theekshana's strong performances in the SLC Invitational T20 league, he was named in Sri Lanka'sOne Day International (ODI) andTwenty20 International (T20I) squads for their seriesagainst South Africa.[22][23] He made his ODI debut on 7 September 2021, for Sri Lanka againstSouth Africa.[24] In the match, he took awicket with his first ball in ODI cricket.[25] He took 4 wickets for 37 runs,[26] helping Sri Lanka win the series 2–1.[27] He became the first Sri Lankan international cricketer to be born in the 21st century.[28] He made his T20I debut on 10 September 2021, also for Sri Lanka against South Africa.[29] Later the same month, Theekshana was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.[30][31] He ended the tournament as second highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka with eight scalps.[32]
In June 2022, he achieved his career best eighth ranking inICC Men's T20I Player Rankings for bowlers.[33]
In July 2022, he was added to Sri Lanka'sTest squad for the second matchagainst Australia.[34] He made his Test debut on 8 July 2022, for Sri Lanka againstAustralia.[35] In August 2022, he was included in Sri Lanka's squad for the2022 Asia Cup.[36] Along withWanindu Hasaranga, Theekshana made the spin bowling department, where Sri Lanka eventually won the tournament for the sixth time.[37] Theekshana made consistent wicket taking option for skipper Dasun Shanaka, where he ended the tournament with 6 wickets for 162 runs with an economy of 6.75.[38]
In May 2024, he was named in Sri Lanka’s squad for the2024 ICC Men's T20 World Cup tournament.[39]
The fans of Chennai Super Kings expressed their grief and vent their frustrations in disbelief by trending hashtags #Boycott_ChennaiSuperKings and #DontNormalizeTamilGenocide in various social media platforms soon after Chennai Super Kings bought Theekshana during the 2022 IPL auction since he had served in theSri Lankan army.[40]
