Those who know Wellalage wouldn’t have been stunned one bit as cricket is within the blood of the 20-year-old, who hails from Moratuwa, the fertile cricket base of Sri Lanka.
His father Suranga Wellalage was a wicketkeeper batsman himself, and had as soon as appeared in just a few matches for the Prince of Wales workforce earlier than diverting his profession.
But it was his son’s future to climb the ladder, and signify the nation from age-group to top-flight cricket.
“I first saw him in a school match while he was playing for St Sebastian’s. The boy had wonderful timing and was a natural talent. He was very handy with the ball too,” stated Roger Wijesuriya, the previous Sri Lankan cricketer.
Soon, Wellalage shifted his base to St Joseph’s College in Colombo in search of a greater, extra established cricket facility.
The faculty has an illustrious alumni record that features Sri Lankan cricketers like Angelo Mathews, Dimuth Karunaratne and Thissara Perera.
“Once he enrolled into the school, we decided to give him as much opportunity to grow as a cricketer. He was a hard-working kid with a clear vision about his career.
“We simply helped him alongside, and he was a heavy-scorer and took wickets repeatedly for his faculty facet. He was simply a step or two forward of different boys round,” said Wijesuriya who mentored and coached Wellalage at the school.
However, Wellalage first made an impression at a big stage during the U-19 World Cup in the West Indies.
That tournament had given the cricketing world several talented kids apart from Wellalage.
The likes of Dewald Brevis and Indian youngsters Yash Dhull and Raj Angad Bawa hogged limelight in that tournament.
“Yeah! It was a breakout match for him. It gave him the arrogance that he can do nicely for his nation on massive levels. It type of mentally ready him as he at all times had the talents,” he said.
In that U-19 World Cup, Wellalage emerged the highest wicket-taker, grabbing 17 wickets from six matches, besides scoring 264 runs with a hundred.
Wellalage also became the first Sri Lankan captain to score a hundred in the Under-19 World Cup during that tournament.
The Sri Lanka senior team debut did not take long as he was given the cap during the first ODI against Australia at Pallekele earlier this June.
His maiden international wicket was Steve Smith, no less.
Now at the Premadasa Stadium, Wellalage has added some more hefty names to that list – Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill.
“He has made an excellent starting. But he nonetheless has an extended strategy to go. But I’m positive that this boy is the longer term flag-bearer of Sri Lankan cricket,” stated Wijesuriya, who has seen a number of younger abilities up shut.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com