2. Dasun Shanaka
Dasun Shanaka has been very impressive as the captain of Sri Lanka in the 50 overs format, since he took over the reins in 2021, during turbulent times for the team. While leading the national team in 33 ODIs, he has helped the national team win 19 and lose 13 matches in the last two years.
Last month, the 31-year-old captained Sri Lanka successfully in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier, winning the tournament to help the national team book a spot in the quadrennial spectacle later this year. But, amidst all the positives for the Sri Lankans in the ODIs in recent times, one shouldn’t forget that they haven’t been performing well against teams ranked above them on the ICC ladder.
With expectations beginning to rise on Dasun Shanaka as the leader, he will be needing big results in the upcoming Asia Cup and ODI World Cup, to keep the team management and Sri Lanka Cricket officials on his side. The pressures of delivering consistent wins against big teams could mean that he might not be able to play the next continental competition as captain in two years' time.
