And Dhoni finishes off in style! India lift the World Cup after 28 years! Well, the 2011 World Cup final-winning six hit by MS Dhoni came off Sri Lankan fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekara’s delivery at the Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.
He was also a part of the Sri Lankan team that defeated India to win the T20 World Cup in 2014. He scalped 8 wickets in a total of 6 matches at an economy rate of 6.42 in the tournament.
After achieving quite aplenty, Kulasekara announced retirement from international cricket on Wednesday.
The 37-year-old has bagged 199 wickets in 184 ODIs and 66 wickets in 58 T20 matches in his 15-year career. Also, in the 21 Test Matches he played for his country, he added 48 wickets to his kitty.
The 21-year-old Kulasekara had made his ODI debut in 2003 and his Test debut in 2005. Since then, there was no looking back for him.
From swinging the ball both ways to bowling brilliantly in the death overs and belting out spot on yorkers in tough conditions, Kulasekara did it all. He went on to be adjudged No. 1 ODI bowler in March 2009.
In 2013, he bowled his career-best figures of 5 for 22 against Australia at Brisbane. The reliable seamer of Sri Lanka has finished as the third-highest wicket-taker among his nation’s fast bowlers after Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga.
Here’s how Twitter reacted to Kulasekara’s retirement:
Nuwan Kulasekara retires ! At one stage, the number one ODI bowler in the world,
but for every Indian, favourite Kulasekara moment is-
"Dhoni finishes off in style.. India lift the world cup after 28 years" pic.twitter.com/OAVqtjjBzu— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 24, 2019
Nuwan Kulasekara is one of the most humblest players I played with. Always gave his 100% to the team and never had complaints. Great example for young Cricketers. Congratulations to him on a fantastic career
— Rangana Herath (@HerathRSL) July 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/daniel86cricket/status/1153917227499835392
Nuwan Kulasekara retires… A fine swing bowler in limited-overs. Was instrumental in Sri Lanka's success in ICC tournaments between 2007-2014. Even became no.1 ODI bowler in March 2009. Will remember him for destroying Indian batting in the final of tri-series at Dhaka in 2010.
— Navneet Mundhra (@navneet_mundhra) July 24, 2019
