Dunith Velalej is a Sri Lankan cricketer who went viral after taking 5 wickets against India in the 2023 Asia Cup. He captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 team in the 2022 ICC Under-19 World Cup.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Dunith Nethmika Velalage was born on Thursday, 9 January 2003 (age 20 years; as of 2023) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Their zodiac sign is Capricorn. He initially attended St. Sebastian’s College, Moratuwa for his schooling and later attended St. Joseph’s College, Colombo. He became interested in playing cricket after watching his father’s trophies in his childhood and later played for his school teams. He received his cricket training from various coaches including Suranga Perera, Roger Wijesuriya and Dilan Ramanayake. Later he became a professional cricketer.
Dunith Velez (centre) during his school days
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 6″
Weight (Approx): 65 kg
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
Family
He is from a middle class family.
parents and siblings
His father’s name is Suranga Niroshan Vellaage who is a cricketer and businessman and his mother’s name is Harshani Kanchana Vellaage who is a housewife.
Dunith Velez with his father, Suranga Niroshan Velez and mother, Harshani Kanchana Velez
He has two younger brothers named Pulina Senath Vellaage who plays badminton and Chamath Chithira Vellaage who also plays cricket.
Dunith Velez with her younger brother, Paulina Senath Velez (right) and youngest brother, Chamath Chithira Velez (left)
wife and children
He is unmarried and has no children.
relationships/affairs
His girlfriend’s name is Dean D’Silva who is a marketing student.
Dunit Velez with his girlfriend Deanne De Silva
Dunit Velazquez’s girlfriend, Dean De Silva
livelihood
domestic
Vélez played for the St. Sebastian’s under-13, St. Sebastian’s under-15, St. Joseph’s under-15 and St. Joseph’s under-19 teams during his school years and gave many good performances. He made his first-class debut for Lanka Cricket Club against Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club on 9 May 2019 and took 5 wickets in the match.
Dunith Velez during a first-class match
He made his List A debut for Lanka Cricket Club against Sinhalese Sports Club on 14 December 2019 and took 1 wicket in the match. He took 8 wickets for 152 runs in the first-class match. He took 5 wickets for 21 runs in the List A match.
Dunith Velez (left) after winning Player of the Match in the National Super League 2022.
international
under-19
Velez captained the Sri Lanka Under-19 team in the 2022 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup. He took 5 wickets twice in the tournament and was the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets and the leading run-scorer for his team with 264 runs. He also shone with the bat by scoring 113 runs in the playoff semi-final match against South Africa.
Dunith Velez (left) during a practice session ahead of the 2022 U-19 World Cup.
Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI and Sri Lanka A
He played for the Sri Lanka Emerging team (also known as the Sri Lanka Cricket Development XI) on their tour of England in April 2022. On 25 May 2022, he made his T20 debut against Surrey; He scored 1 run and gave 14 runs without any wicket. He also played for Sri Lanka A during the series against Australia A in 2022.
Examination
He made his Test debut against Pakistan on 24 July 2022; He gave 35 runs in the match without taking any wicket and scored 11 runs in the first innings and 18 runs in the second innings.
ODI
He made his ODI debut against Australia on 14 June 2022; He took 2 wickets for 49 runs in the match.
Dunith Velez (right) being given an ODI cap by Wanindu Hasaranga on his ODI debut
He finished the 5-match series against Australia in 2022 as the leading wicket-taker with 9 wickets.
On 12 September 2023, during the Super-4 match against India, he achieved his first 5-wicket haul of 5 for 40 and also scored 42 not out in the match; He won his first man of the match award for his performance.
Dunith Velez (left) with his first ODI Man of the Match award
franchise league
Lanka Premier League
In the third edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in 2022, Vellaj was acquired by Jaffna Kings in the Diamond B Group ($25,000; approximately LKR 9 million).
Dunith Velez in Jaffna Kings jersey
Jersey number
Velage wears the number 1 jersey for Sri Lanka.
Dunith Velez Jersey Number 1
record
- First Sri Lankan captain to score a century in the Under-19 Cricket World Cup (in 2022)
- Youngest cricketer to win Man of the Match award in Lanka Premier League (LPL) (in 2023)
Awards, Honors, Achievements
- Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Best Bowler of the Year and Best Allrounder of the Year Awards at the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year Awards in 2021
Dunith Velez (left) with the Schoolboy Cricketer of the Year, Best Bowler of the Year and Best Allrounder of the Year awards
- Named in ICC Most Valuable Team of 2022 Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup
Facts/General Knowledge
- Velez is a bowling all-rounder. His batting style is left-handed, and his bowling style is slow left-arm orthodox.
- In June 2023, he signed with the management company, Field Power Sports. He has also signed a contract with KG Cricket which provides him all the cricket equipment.
Dunith Velez (left) after signing with Field Power Sports Management Company.
- His favorite cricketers growing up were Kusal Mendis and Avishka Fernando.
- After receiving his first ODI Man of the Match award in the 2023 Asia Cup against India, he touched Virat Kohli’s feet and later said that Kohli is like God to him.
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn