Kusal Janith Perera has made history by becoming the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score over 2000 runs in international T20 cricket. Prior to the third and final T20 match against New Zealand at Saxton Oval, Perera had accumulated 1955 runs in 75 innings, across 76 T20 internationals.
In the decisive match, Perera played an outstanding knock of 101 runs off just 46 balls, marking his first century in T20 internationals and helping him cross the 2000-run threshold. With this performance, Perera has now accumulated 2056 runs in 77 T20 matches, featuring one century and 15 half-centuries. His innings included 13 boundaries and 4 sixes, and his century is one of the fastest by a Sri Lankan in T20 internationals.
The previous fastest centuries by Sri Lankans in T20s were scored by Tillekaratne Dilshan, who took 55 balls, and Mahela Jayawardene, who needed 64 balls to reach his milestone. Perera’s achievement of scoring a century off just 46 balls puts him among the quickest to do so, demonstrating his aggressive and dynamic style of batting.
Kusal Perera’s success has made him a prominent figure in Sri Lanka’s T20 lineup, particularly with his ability to dominate both pace and spin bowlers, making him a valuable asset in the shortest format of the game.
Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis is also closing in on the 2000-run mark in T20 internationals. With 1920 runs from 78 matches, including 15 half-centuries, Mendis is well-positioned to join Perera in the elite club. Mendis has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka, and his upcoming milestone will further bolster Sri Lanka’s presence in T20 cricket.
Perera’s landmark achievement highlights his consistency and capability as one of Sri Lanka’s premier T20 batsmen, reflecting his impact on the international scene and cementing his legacy in Sri Lankan cricket.
