Sri Lanka’s most promising fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka overtook the value of his team-mate Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva at the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) auction as he fetched a price of 4.6 crore or 570,000 US dollars paid by Mumbai Indians in Dubai where the bidding took place today.
The 23-year old Madushanka nudged franchise cricket team owners with a revealing performance that brought him 21 wickets at the concluded 50-ver World Cup in India last month that made him the second best scalp hunter in the event.
He surpassed the value placed on Hasaranga who was bought by Sunrises Hyderabad for just 1.5 crore.
Mumbai Indians had to face opposition from another grabber in Lucknow Super Giants who eventually withdrew from the bidding process unable to go beyond the figure of 4.6 crore.
Although Madushanka has taken only 12 wickets in 11 matches in T20 Internationals for Sri Lanka, franchise owners and player watchers see him as a bowler capable of bigger flings in the shortest version of the game.
His new assignment comes at a time when the IPL has decided to allow fast bowlers to use two bouncers per over instead of one at the 2024 season in order to promote an even contest between bat and ball.
It also marks a maiden appearance for Madushanka in the high profile IPL which is considered the best of all franchise T20 tournaments played all over the world.
Madushanka’s previous white ball shows for franchise teams were for the Durban Super Giants in South Africa and the Sharjah Worries in the UAE.
He has played for the Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Vikings in the Lanka Premier League.
