Who Was Dhammika Niroshana? Former Sri Lankan Cricketer Shot Dead At Home

Former Sri Lankan cricketer Dhammika Niroshana, 41, was shot dead at his residence in Ambalangoda, a small town in Galle district, on July 16, as reported by local media. 

Former Sri Lankan Cricketer Shot Dead at Home in Front of Family

According to police reports, Niroshana was with his wife and two children when an unidentified person openly fired. The suspect has not yet been apprehended, and a thorough investigation is currently underway. The motive behind the crime remains unclear at this time.

Niroshana, a right-arm fast bowler and a capable lower-order batter, was considered a rising talent during his playing days. He represented the Galle Cricket Club, playing 12 first-class games and 8 List A matches between 2001 and 2004. During his career, he scored over 300 runs and took 19 wickets.

Niroshana made his debut for the Sri Lankan U-19 side in 2000, playing under-19 Test and ODI cricket for two years. He also captained the Sri Lankan U-19 team in 10 games. Under his leadership, players like Farveez Maharoof, Angelo Mathews, and Upul Tharanga developed their skills and eventually represented Sri Lanka at the highest level. Despite his potential, Niroshana's career never fully took off, and his last competitive cricket match was in December 2004.

In other cricket news, Sri Lanka is gearing up to host India for a white-ball series. After a disappointing T20 World Cup where Sri Lanka, led by Wanindu Hasaranga, failed to progress beyond the group stages, the team is set to take on the tournament champions in a three-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series. The series will commence on July 27 with the T20Is.

This series will also mark a new chapter in Indian cricket as Gautam Gambhir makes his debut as head coach. Additionally, it will be the first major series since the T20I retirements of stalwarts Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja. The Indian selectors are expected to announce a new T20I captain, with a focus on preparing for the 2026 T20 World Cup to be held in India.