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Who is Kusal Perera? Know About His Relationships, Family, Career, Stats and More

11 min
Kusal Perera
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There’s always been something faintly unexplainable about Kusal Perera. A free spirit with a bat, a man who seems happiest when convention is being bent out of shape. Sri Lanka didn’t produce him to be a spreadsheet cricketer. They led him to cause chaos. Take Durban, 2019. You’ve heard the tale about the 153* in a chase that had no business being chased.

South Africa were strutting, Sri Lanka were spent, and then Perera decided, with all the recklessness of a man tossing a match into dry grass, that the game was not yet done. By the end, it was one of the greatest jailbreaks the format had ever witnessed. But Perera is not a man of just one story, even if that innings will forever shadow the rest.

His cricket has always been about streaks of brilliance, flickering and fading, yet always worth watching. Left-handed aggression, a willingness to fail gloriously, and the occasional day when it all sticks and he looks unstoppable. He has made centuries in every format and filled in as wicketkeeper and captain whenever duty called.

Kusal Perera Biography

Born in Kalubowila in 1990, he rose the usual way. Clubs, youth cricket, and domestic grind. But don’t mistake the ordinary path for an ordinary player. Perera has never been that. He isn’t the best batsman of all time, Sangakkara’s silk nor Jayasuriya’s blunt force, but something untidier, something rawer.

A cricketer who makes you lean forward, heart quickening, because with him the line between triumph and calamity is paper-thin.

And maybe that’s the point. Cricket, after all, isn’t just about runs and records. It’s about theatre. And few Sri Lankan cricketers in the modern era have staged it quite like Kusal Perera.

Full NameKusal Janith Perera
Date of Birth17 August 1990
Age35 (as of 2025)
NationalitySri Lankan
ReligionBuddhism
Birth PlaceKalubowila, Sri Lanka
Height5 feet 6 inches (168 cm)
Current TeamSri Lanka National Cricket Team
RoleWicketkeeper-batsman
Batting StyleLeft-handed
Bowling StyleRight-arm off-break
International Debut

Test: Aug 2015 vs Pakistan

ODI/T20I: Jan 2013 vs Australia

Jersey No.55
Net WorthApprox. 12 crore INR
Relationship StatusMarried to Dilani Surangika

Kusal Perera Religion & Caste

Kusal Perera was born and raised in a Buddhist family in Sri Lanka. Faith was always there in the background, but he has never made religion or caste his public identity. He is admired everywhere, across communities, for what he does with the bat.

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Kusal Perera Family

Every cricketer carries a world beyond the field. For Kusal Perera, that world is family. His father guided him. His mother cared for him. His brother and sister stood by him. In those small sacrifices, the fearless batter was made.

Kusal Perera Father

Every journey needs a spark. For Kusal, that spark was his father, Kithsiri. By profession, a businessman. By heart, a mentor. The Kusal Perera father figure was not one of passive pride but active guidance. In moments when doubt threatened to take over, it was his father’s voice that cut through. Without him, the story might have been very different.

Kusal Perera Mother

If his father pushed, his mother steadied. PV Swarnalatha, the Kusal Perera's mother, might be described as a housewife, but that hardly captures her role. She carried the unseen weight of early mornings, of quiet reassurances, of watching her son fall and rise again. Through injuries, failures, and milestones, she was the constant. Not just the backbone of the household but the soul of Kusal’s resilience.

Kusal Perera Brother

Kusal’s cricket story began at home. Not in stadiums, but in the backyard with his brother. Dilshan, the Kusal Perera brother, played for Negombo Cricket Club. To young Kusal, he was a teacher and a friendly rival. Every throw mattered. Every challenge counted. Those moments with Dilshan lit his fire for the game.

Kusal Perera Sister

If his brother sparked the dream, his sister kept him grounded. Udara, the Kusal Perera sister, never came into the limelight. She gave quiet support instead. Her presence calmed him. Her words balanced him. Dilshan pushed him to aim higher. Udara reminded him to stay humble.

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Kusal Perera Instagram

Scroll through Instagram and you’ll find him at @kjp_130. There are training clips, locker-room laughs, team celebrations, snapshots from big matches, and the occasional personal milestone. It’s his direct line to fans, a space where you can see both the cricketer and the man behind the gloves.

Kusal Perera Facebook

On Facebook, his verified page @Kusalpereraoffical brings another side of him. Match-day updates, photos with teammates, fan messages, career highlights. It is less about the filters and more about staying connected with the people who cheer for him the loudest.

Kusal Perera Twitter

And then there’s Twitter, where he goes by @KusalJPerera. Quick thoughts. Match reactions. As of now, his account has been suspended.

Kusal Perera Jersey Number

The jersey he wears for Sri Lanka in every format is 55. A number that has become more than fabric. It’s the sight fans wait for, the symbol they rally behind.

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Kusal Perera Relationships

No public details exist about Kusal Perera relationships before marriage. His personal life mostly stays away from media discussions, with focus remaining on his cricket performances.

Kusal Perera Wife

Kusal Perera wife, Dilani Surangika, is a former Sri Lankan women’s cricketer. Their connection grew through a shared love for the game, eventually leading to marriage on March 19, 2016, in a private ceremony. Dilani has been a steady supporter of Kusal’s career, often encouraging him during important matches. Away from the spotlight, she plays a key role in maintaining balance in their family life, which in turn helps Kusal stay focused on international cricket.

Kusal Perera Net Worth & Salary

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Image credits: Kusal Perera official Instagram account/@kjp_130

Kusal Perera net worth is estimated at around ₹12 crore in 2025. Most of his earnings come from representing Sri Lanka and his central contract with the board. Match fees across formats make up a steady share of his income. Franchise leagues provide another boost.

Endorsements and sponsorships add extra value. As he keeps playing and contributing, his earnings are likely to rise. While figures vary, Kusal’s financial profile reflects both stability and growth built through his international career.

Estimated Net Worth (2025)Approx. ₹12 crore INR
Central ContractFrom Sri Lanka Cricket contracts
Match Fee – TestApproximately 150,000 LKR per match
Match Fee – ODIApproximately 90,000 LKR per match
Match Fee – T20IApproximately 50,000 LKR per match
Franchise League SalaryEarnings from various leagues
Endorsements & SponsorshipsSignificant additional income from brand deals

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Kusal Perera Career

Kusal Perera career has been less a steady climb than a wild surge of energy, all crash and spark in equal measure. He first appeared in 2013, in ODIs and T20Is, batting with a freedom that felt almost reckless but rarely dull. Two years later came the defining statement in Tests. A 153* in Durban that remains etched in Sri Lanka’s folklore. Since then, Perera has lived on the margins, his aggression both his greatest gift and his most volatile gamble.

International Career

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Image credits: Kusal Perera official Facebook account

Let’s talk about Kusal Perera for a moment. You know that feeling when a batter can flip a match on its head? That is him. In Tests (2015–2021), he scored 1177 runs, and yes, that heroic 153* still gives goosebumps. In ODIs, from 2013–2023, he smashed 3237 runs with six centuries. And if you have watched him in T20Is, he has got 2080 runs, a strike rate of 133. He doesn’t just play cricket. He makes you feel it.

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAvgBFSR100s50s0s4s6s
Tests224131177153*30.97162972.2527515112
ODIs1161115323713530.53348592.886171236252
T20Is80793208010127.361563133.07115620166

Other Leagues Career

Kusal Perera’s franchise cricket journey spans across leagues worldwide. For Lahore Qalandars in the PSL, he scored 170 runs in just 4 innings at a strike rate of 173.46. His biggest impact came in the ILT20 with 527 runs for MI Emirates. In the Lanka Premier League, across three teams, he piled up 811 runs, including a century.

Kusal has also featured in the IPL for the Rajasthan Royals, for which he has played just 2 matches; however, he didn't perform well and was dropped from the team eventually.

TournamentTeamsMatInnsNORunsHSAveBFSR100s50s4s6sCtSt
PSLLQ44117062*56.6698173.460215930
ILT20MIE212015276527.73371142.0403601610
LPL3 teams31313811102*28.96570142.28158030144
BPLRAR110000.0020.00000000
IPLRR22014147.0013107.69003000

Kusal Perera Achievements & Awards

Kusal Perera is the kind of cricketer who keeps you on the edge of your seat. He bats with raw power and backs it up with sharp wicketkeeping. Big games? He usually shines brightest under pressure. Let us walk through some of the major milestones and achievements that have defined his career so far.

Year / EventAchievement / Award
2012Made international debut for Sri Lanka; quickly earned comparisons to Sanath Jayasuriya due to his aggressive batting style.
2013Scored maiden ODI fifty (84 vs India) in the Tri-Nation Series.
2015Scored fastest ODI fifty by a Sri Lankan (17 balls vs Pakistan) – one of the fastest in ODI history.
2015 ICC Cricket World CupPlayed as a key opener for Sri Lanka, contributing with brisk starts.
2019Produced a legendary innings of 153 vs South Africa* in Durban, guiding Sri Lanka to the highest-ever successful run chase in South Africa and earning ICC recognition as one of the greatest Test innings.
2019Awarded Man of the Match for his 153* in Durban Test; innings widely hailed as one of the best in Test history.
2019Selected in ICC’s Test Team of the Year nominations for his heroics.
2021Scored his maiden ODI century (120 vs Bangladesh) in Dhaka.
2021Appointed Sri Lanka’s ODI captain.
2023Played a key role in Sri Lanka’s Asia Cup campaign after returning from injuries.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Kusal Perera?

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Kusal Perera is a Sri Lankan international cricketer, known for his aggressive left-handed batting and wicketkeeping skills. He has played for Sri Lanka across all formats and earned a reputation for match-winning performances.

What is Kusal Perera’s age and birthday?

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Kusal Perera was born on August 17, 1990. As of August 22, 2025, he is 35 years old.

What is Kusal Perera’s height?

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Kusal Perera’s height is 5 feet 6 inches (168 cm).

Who is Kusal Perera’s wife?

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Kusal Perera is married to Dilani Surangika, a former Sri Lankan women’s cricketer. They got married on March 19, 2016.

How many centuries has Kusal Perera scored?

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Kusal Perera has scored centuries in all three formats for Sri Lanka:

Test: 2 centuries

ODI: 6 centuries

T20I: 1 century (His maiden T20I century was scored on January 2, 2025, making him the third Sri Lankan to score centuries in all formats).

What is Kusal Perera’s net worth and salary?

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Kusal Perera’s net worth is estimated to be around 12 crore INR.

What is Kusal Perera’s jersey number?

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Kusal Perera’s jersey number is 55 (ICC tournaments).

What are Kusal Perera’s career achievements?

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Key member of Sri Lanka’s 2014 ICC World Twenty20 winning team. Scored centuries in all three international formats for Sri Lanka, joining an elite few Sri Lankan cricketers. Holds the record for Sri Lanka’s fastest T20I century (44 balls). Notable match-winning knock of 153* against South Africa in a historic Test chase. Over 3,000 ODI runs, 2,000+ T20I runs, and 1,100+ Test runs for Sri Lanka.

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Edited by- Aaryan Raj
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