Who is Dasun Shanaka? Know About His Relationships, Family, Career, Stats and More

Dasun Shanaka is the star all-rounder from Sri Lanka who is known for his explosive batting and ability to bowl whenever needed. He is also one of the most successful captains that the Sri Lankan team has seen in the shortest format of the game. In the 48 matches that he captained, he won 22 games and had a winning record of 47.91%. He is only behind Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Dinesh Chandimal on this list.

In the Super 8 match against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka played a brilliant innings, scoring 76 runs off just 31 balls at a strike rate of 245.16. He attacked from the start, hitting boundaries and keeping Sri Lanka in the chase of Pakistan’s 212. Despite his aggressive knock, Sri Lanka fell short, losing the match by 5 runs, but Shanaka’s innings was one of the highlights of the Super 8 stage.

Dasun Shanaka Biography

Dasun Shanaka birthday is September 9, 1991. Dasun Shanaka is 33 years old. His cricket career began at a young age, motivated by his respect for the famous Sri Lankan batsman Sanath Jayasuriya, one of the GOAT of cricketers. He began playing cricket in his village when he was just five or six years old, hoping to replicate Jayasuriya's power hitting. His impressive achievements in shorter formats, particularly two centuries in club cricket in 2015, brought him into the spotlight. These achievements earned him a spot on the national T20I team.

Dasun Shanaka Religion and Caste

Dasun Shanaka is a Christian and often attends the service at St Sebastian's Church in his hometown of Negombo. According to reports, Shanaka narrowly missed the 2019 Easter Sunday church bombings in Sri Lanka because he was tired the day before and skipped church.

Dasun Shanaka Instagram

Dasun Shanaka's official Instagram account is @dasun_shanaka1. He has close to 373.5K followers. He most often shares updates about his matches, training sessions, and team victories. He also sometimes shares glimpses into his family life, posting pictures with his wife and family, but not frequently.

Dasun Shanaka Twitter

Dasun Shanaka is fairly active on X (formerly Twitter) with his handle @dasunshanaka1, and he also has over 88K followers. His posts are mostly about his cricket career, demonstrating his love for representing Sri Lanka. He also uses the platform to wish his fellow cricketers on their birthdays.

Dasun Shanaka Facebook

Dasun Shanaka has an official Facebook page with 549K followers. Shanaka's Facebook profile shows his career as a professional cricketer, with posts regarding his matches, performances, and participation in both the Sri Lankan national team and franchise leagues such as the IPL and ILT20.

Dasun Shanaka Jersey Number

Dasun Shanaka has worn jersey numbers 7 and 58 for the Sri Lanka cricket team. He now exclusively uses the number 7, which was originally worn by the legendary Sanath Jayasuriya.

Dasun Shanaka Relationships

Dasun Shanaka is married to Chewanthi Perera. They got married on September 5, 2020, at the Avanra Garden Hotel in Negombo. Beyond his marriage to Chewanthi, information regarding Dasun Shanaka's previous relationships or dating history is not widely available to the public.

Dasun Shanaka Wife

Dasun Shanaka wife Chewanthi Perera married the cricketer three years ago Their wedding had been scheduled for a few months before but was postponed owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shanaka's first wedding anniversary was celebrated with a surprise cake when the Sri Lankan team returned to the hotel after a match.

Dasun Shanaka Net Worth & Salary

As per many reports, Dasun Shanaka net worth is $1.5 million, which is approximately ₹11 crores. His primary earnings are from his central contract with the Sri Lankan Cricket Team, the IPL, and other leagues' salaries. Apart from that, he is also a brand ambassador for Orange Electric and Copper Universe.

Dasun Shanaka Career

Dasun Shanaka career has seen him become an explosive batsman and medium-fast bowler, made his T20I debut for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in August 2015. His impressive domestic achievements, including record-breaking T20 scores for the Sinhalese Sports Club, helped him earn attention.

International career

His one-day international debut against Ireland in June 2016 was particularly spectacular, as he took five wickets for 42 runs, becoming only the third Sri Lankan to do so on debut. He was selected Player of the Series during the series against Ireland. Shanaka was selected as Sri Lanka's T20I captain in February 2021, and he also led the ODI side in a series against India later that year.

Other Leagues' Career

Dasun Shanaka has been a prominent figure in various Twenty20 (T20) franchise leagues across the globe. Apart from playing in the IPL, he has also played in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Lanka Premier League (LPL), Pakistan Super League (PSL), and the International League T20 (ILT20).

Dasun Shanaka Achievements & Awards

Dasun Shanaka, a skilled all-rounder and former captain of Sri Lanka's limited-overs teams, has reached several significant milestones and gained praise for his efforts as the team's captain. From winning the Asia Cup 2022 as captain to becoming the first Sri Lankan to rack up a five-wicket haul on ODI debut and one of only three overall, he has accomplished a lot.