Experts, fans 'impressed' by Sri Lankan spinner Dunith Wellalage

The 20-year-old Dunith Wellalage who turned out to be Sri Lanka's all-important "wild card" in their Super 4 match against India, has "impressed" cricketers, fans and experts alike with his five-for.

While conceding only 40 runs, Wellalage bagged key wickets including that of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya.

This impressive show of skill has "impressed" cricketers, fans and experts alike who have taken to social media to praise the young spinner for his performance.

"Wellalage has been excellent," said prominent Indian commentator Harsha Bhogle on his official X — formerly known as Twitter — account.

Meanwhile, Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said: "That ball from Wellalage to Gill is a dream ball for any spinner."

"Just see what Dunith Wellalage," said former Pakistan women's team captain Urooj Mumtaz.

Whereas another user called Dunith Wellalage as the future of Srilanka [cricket].

"What a bowling by Sri Lanka - Wellalage the hero", another used said.

Another user Shaharyar said, "That’s how a spinner should bowl...Well Done Wellalage."

It is to be noted that India in their second Super 4 stage match on Tuesday was limited to 213 runs after Sri Lankan bowlers in an impressive display of bowling successfully managed to reign in the strong batting lineup in 49 overs.

Winning the toss, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma opted to bat first. Despite the Indian captain scoring a 50, the Men in Blue didn't have a stable start after the Sri Lankan "young gun" Dunith Wellalage managed to pick up back-to-back wickets.

For India, skipper Rohit Sharma with his 53 runs inning, came out as the highest scorer in the match. Three of the Indian batsmen didn't even manage to get to the double figures.

Meanwhile, for Sri Lanka, Wellage bagged a "five–for" while conceding only 40 runs. Charith Asalanka and Maheesh Theekshana took four and one wicket, respectively.

The Indian side was bowled out in 49.1 overs, giving Sri Lanka a target of 214 runs in 50 overs.

Playing XI

India: Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Ishan Kishan (wc), KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj.

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wc), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana.