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‘India wale kbhi jeetenge ya nhi’ – Fans react as Sri Lanka allrounder Wanindu Hasranga wins Player of the Month award for June

Notably, in 2022, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were the only two Indian players to win this award.

Jul 11, 2023 6:31 pm

Apex Cricket Council announced Sri Lanka all-rounder Wanindu Hasranga as the Player of the Month for June 2023 after declaring the poll results. Hasranga won this award after his exceptional performance in the 2023 World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. In the recently-concluded tournament, Sri Lanka finished as champions after beating the Netherlands in the final.

Hasranga clinched 26 wickets in June at an average of 10.00. He claimed six wickets in the tournament opener against the United Arab Emirates (UAE), five wickets for 13 runs against Oman, and five wickets for 79 runs against Ireland. With these stunning performances, Hasaranga became the first spinner in ODI history to record three consecutive five-wicket hauls.

The voters include a panel of experts consisting of Hall of Famers, former international players, media representatives, and registered global cricket fans of the official website. Hasranga’s exceptional performance helped Sri Lanka book their place in the upcoming World Cup in 2023 in India.

Sri Lanka remained unbeaten in World Cup qualifiers

Wanindu Hasaranga’s match-winning performances were vital for his side. As they finished their campaign unbeaten throughout the tournament. His amazing performance also earned him a spot on the Upstox team for the Tournament. Hasaranga expressed his thanks and honour at being picked as the Men’s Player of the Month, especially given Sri Lanka’s World Cup qualification.

In addition, he became the first Sri Lankan player to win this accolade since Prabath Jayasuriya in July 2022. Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams, another strong player in the Qualifier, and Australia’s Travis Head were also nominated for the prestigious award. Notably, in 2022, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer were the only two Indian players to win this award. Iyer won it in February 2022, while Virat clinched it for an amazing performance in T20 World Cup in October 2022.

Here is how fans reacted to Wanindu Hasranga’s achievement: