Maheesh Theekshana is a mystery spinner from Sri Lanka who is mostly famous for his IPL exploits, other than his international performances. Interestingly, his bowling action resembles that of the Sri Lanka great Ajantha Mendis, who also served as his mentor when he was playing club cricket in the early stages of his career. His right-arm off-break bowling has won Sri Lanka many crucial matches. He is truly an asset to the Sri Lankan team and a force to reckon with for the opposition.
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Who is Maheesh Theekshana? Know About His Relationships, Family, Career, Stats and More

Maheesh Theekshana Biography
Maheesh Theekshana was born on 1st August 2000, in Colombo, Sri Lanka. He started playing cricket in the Asoka de Silva School of Cricket, where he learnt the basics of the game. After some time, he moved to St. Benedict's College to play at an even higher level.
Full Name | Morawakage Maheesh Theekshana |
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Date of Birth | 1 August 2000 |
Age | 24 years (as of July 2025) |
Nationality | Sri Lankan |
Birth Place | Colombo |
Height | 6 ft 0 in (approx. 183 cm) |
Current Teams | Sri Lanka National Team Rajasthan Royals (IPL) Galle Marvels (LPL) Joburg Super Kings (SA20) |
Role | Bowler |
Bowling Style | Right-arm off break |
Debut | 7 Sep 2021, vs South Africa | ODI 10 Sep 2021, vs South Africa | T20I 1 Jul 2022, vs Australia | Test |
Jersey No. | #61 (Sri Lanka and other leagues) |
Net Worth | Approx. $1.5 million |
Relationship Status | Married to Arthika Yonali |
Maheesh Theekshana Religion & Caste
Maheesh Theekshana is known to practice Christianity, and as far as his caste is concerned, we don't have any official information on the topic.
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Maheesh Theekshana Family
Maheesh Theekshana has been blessed with a very loving and supportive family that has been with him every step of his cricketing career. However, not much is known about them.
Maheesh Theekshana Father
The death of easily accessible information on Maheesh Theekshana's father is a reflection of his desire to keep his family life secret. However, it's evident that Theekshana's early cricketing goals and professional career depended heavily on his father's support.
Maheesh Theekshana Mother
Like his father, there isn't much public information available about Maheesh Theekshana's mother. Her contribution to his life, however, in fostering his potential at an early age, cannot be overstated.
Maheesh Theekshana Brother
Maheesh Theekshana has also kept his silence on his siblings, but according to a few credible sources, he has a younger brother named Sithma Pawan.
Maheesh Theekshana Sister
Maheesh Theekshana has two sisters, as claimed by some verified sources, but their personal details, including their names, are unavailable.
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Maheesh Theekshana Instagram
Maheesh Theekshana has an Instagram account under the handle @maheesh_theekshana, where he has more than 293k followers. He regularly posts photos and updates of his personal and professional life.
Maheesh Theekshana Twitter
Maheesh Theekshana also has an X (formerly known as Twitter) account under the handle @maheesht61, where he has more than 14k followers. He frequently posts on this platform as well.
Maheesh Theekshana Facebook
Maheesh Theekshana does have a Facebook account under the handle Maheesh Theekshana, where he has more than 27k followers. He shares glimpses of his cricketing and personal journey on the platform.
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Maheesh Theekshana Jersey Number
Maheesh Theekshana is known to sport the 61-number jersey across formats (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is) for Sri Lanka in international cricket. Notably, he dons the same number jersey in other leagues and franchise cricket.
Maheesh Theekshana Relationships
Maheesh Theekshana is married to Arthika Yonali, whom he dated for some time before finally tying the knot on 17 January 2025 in a grand ceremony at Colombo.
Maheesh Theekshana Wife
Maheesh Theekshana wife, Arthika Yonali, is a flight attendant in the Emirates cabin crew. Apart from this nothing much is known about her.
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Maheesh Theekshana Net Worth & Salary

Maheesh Theekshana has made quite some money over the recent years. His Central Contract with Sri Lanka Cricket is worth around $100,000 (₹80 lakh), and he has made about $400,000 from match fees. His total IPL earnings playing for the Chennai Super Kings and the Rajasthan Royals are ₹6.5 crore. Therefore, the estimated Maheesh Theekshana net worth is around $1.5 million (₹13 crore).
Net Worth (USD) | $1.5 million (~₹13 crore) |
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Central Contract with Sri Lanka Cricket | Around $100,000 (~₹80 lakh) |
Match Fees | Approx. $400,000 |
IPL Salary | ₹70 lakh/year (Chennai Super Kings, 2022-24) |
IPL Auction Salary | ₹4.4 crore (Rajasthan Royals, 2025) |
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Maheesh Theekshana Career

Maheesh Theekshana career in international cricket started with the Sri Lanka vs South Africa ODI match at Colombo (RPS) on 7th September 2021. He then went on to make his T20I debut on 10th September 2021 in the Sri Lanka vs South Africa at the same venue. Finally, his Test debut came on 8th July 2022 in the Sri Lanka vs Australia match at Galle. Currently he his playing in the Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh series.
International Career
Maheesh Theekshana has played just 2 Test matches, from which he has 5 wickets in 4 innings at an average of 37.60 with a best figure of 2/28. In ODIs, he has claimed 77 scalps from 53 matches at an average of 25.61 with a top performance of 4/25. He also has an economy of 4.59 and seven 4-wicket hauls in the format. Furthermore, he has taken 58 wickets from 60 T20I matches at an average of 26.56 and a best bowling performance of 3/17.
Format | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | BBI | BBM | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 4w |
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Tests | 2 | 4 | 365 | 188 | 5 | 2/28 | 3/76 | 37.60 | 3.09 | 73.0 | 0 |
ODIs | 53 | 52 | 2573 | 1972 | 77 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 25.61 | 4.59 | 33.4 | 7 |
T20Is | 60 | 60 | 1344 | 1541 | 58 | 3/17 | 3/17 | 26.56 | 6.87 | 23.1 | 0 |
Other Leagues Career
Maheesh Theekshana has been a part of the IPL since 2022 and has taken 36 wickets from 38 matches at an average of 33.52 with a best figure of 4/33. He also has a decent economy of 8.26 and a 4-wicket haul in the format. He has played a total of 10 matches in the SA20, playing for the Joburg Super Kings, and has taken 8 wickets at an average of 35.25 with a top figure of 3/30. In the LPL, he has played 38 matches and has claimed 43 wickets from these matches at an average of 24.11. He also has an economy of 6.91 and a 4-wicket haul.
Tournament | Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w |
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IPL | 38 | 38 | 876 | 1207 | 36 | 4/33 | 4/33 | 33.52 | 8.26 | 24.3 | 1 |
SA20 | 10 | 10 | 234 | 282 | 8 | 3/30 | 3/30 | 35.25 | 7.23 | 29.2 | 0 |
LPL | 38 | 38 | 900 | 1037 | 43 | 4/25 | 4/25 | 24.11 | 6.91 | 20.9 | 1 |
Maheesh Theekshana Achievements & Awards
Maheesh Theekshana is an exceptional player who has delivered many memorable performances for his teams and has managed to register some feats and accolades in the process. He was the leading wicket-taker for Jaffna Kings (16 wickets) as they won the 2021 LPL. In the same year, he was recognized by the ICC after standout performances in his debut T20I series, and thus, placed in the ICC T20I Team of the Month – September 2021. The following year, he was Part of the Sri Lanka team that won the 2022 Asia Cup and was consequently promoted to Army Sergeant by the SL Army. He took his maiden IPL 4-wicket haul in 2023, and also played a key role, contributing 11 wickets in CSK’s title-winning campaign. In 2025, he achieved the top bowler spot in the latest ICC ODI bowling rankings.
Year | Achievement / Award |
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2020–21 | Lanka Premier League Champion (Jaffna Kings) |
2021 | ICC T20I Team of the Month – Sept 2021 |
2022 | Asia Cup Winner & Army Sergeant promotion |
2023 | First 4‑wicket haul in IPL by Sri Lankan spinner |
2023 | IPL Champion (CSK) |
2025 | ICC No.1 ODI Bowlers’ ranking |
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FAQs
Who is Maheesh Theekshana?
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Who is Maheesh Theekshana?
Maheesh Theekshana is a young and dynamic Sri Lankan cricketer known for his mystery spin bowling.
What is Maheesh Theekshana age and birthday?
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What is Maheesh Theekshana age and birthday?
He is currently 24 years old, and Maheesh Theekshana birthday comes on 1st August every year.
What is Maheesh Theekshana height?
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What is Maheesh Theekshana height?
Maheesh Theekshana stands at 6 ft 0 in (approx. 183 cm) tall.
Who is Maheesh Theekshana wife?
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Who is Maheesh Theekshana wife?
Maheesh Theekshana is married to Arthika Yonali, who works as a flight attendant in the Emirates cabin crew.
How many centuries has Maheesh Theekshana scored?
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How many centuries has Maheesh Theekshana scored?
Maheesh Theekshana is essentially a bowler with his main focus being bowling. Therefore, he doesn't have any centuries to his name.
What is Maheesh Theekshana net worth and salary?
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What is Maheesh Theekshana net worth and salary?
He has earned roughly $400,000 from match fees, while his Central Contract with Sri Lanka Cricket is valued at nearly $100,000 (~80 lakh). His combined IPL earnings from playing for the Rajasthan Royals and Chennai Super Kings come to ₹6.5 crore. Maheesh Theekshana's estimated net worth is therefore approximately $1.5 million (~13 crore).
What is Maheesh Theekshana jersey number?
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What is Maheesh Theekshana jersey number?
In international cricket, Maheesh Theekshana is renowned for wearing the 61-number jersey for Sri Lanka in all forms (Tests, ODIs, and T20Is). Interestingly, he wears the same number shirt in franchise cricket and other competitions.
What are Maheesh Theekshana career achievements?
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What are Maheesh Theekshana career achievements?
He took 16 wickets, the most of any player, and helped the Jaffna Kings win the 2021 LPL. Due to his outstanding play in his first T20I series, he was named to the ICC T20I Team of the Month in September 2021. He played for Sri Lanka in the 2022 Asia Cup, and as a result, the SL Army promoted him to Army Sergeant. He contributed 11 wickets to CSK's championship campaign and claimed his first IPL 4-wicket haul in 2023. He was ranked as the best bowler in the most recent ICC ODI bowling rankings in 2025.
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