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{{short description|Sri Lankan cricketer}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Asela Gunaratne
| image =
| full_name = Downdegedara Asela Sampath Gunaratne
| nickname = Army Gune
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1986|1|8|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Kandy]], Sri Lanka
| heightft = 6
| heightinch = 1
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| role =[[All-rounder]]
| international = yes
| internationalspan = 2016–2019
| country = Sri Lanka
| testdebutdate = 29 October
| testdebutyear = 2016
| testdebutagainst = Zimbabwe
| testcap = 138
| lasttestdate = 26 July
| lasttestyear = 2017
| lasttestagainst = India

| odidebutdate = 14 November
| odidebutyear = 2016
| odidebutagainst = Zimbabwe
| odicap = 176
| lastodidate = 5 January
| lastodiyear = 2019
| lastodiagainst = New Zealand
| odishirt = 14 (previously 42)

| T20Idebutdate = 14 February
| T20Idebutyear = 2016
| T20Idebutagainst = India
| T20Icap = 63
| lastT20Idate = 24 December
| lastT20Iyear = 2017
| lastT20Iagainst = India
| T20Ishirt = 14 (previously 42)

| club1 = [[Sri Lanka Army Sports Club (cricket)|SL Army]]
| year1 = {{nowrap|2008/09–2023/24}}
| club2 = [[Mohammedan Sporting Club cricket team|Mohammedan Sporting Club]]
| year2 = 2013/14
| club3 = [[Kurunegala Warriors]]
| year3 = 2015/16
| club4 = [[Dhanmondi Sports Club cricket team|Dhanmondi Sports Club]]
| year4 = 2018/19
| club5 = [[Lahore Qalandars]]
| year5 = 2019
| club6 = [[Chattogram Challengers]]
| year6 = 2019/20
| club7 = [[Kandy Tuskers]]
| year7 = 2020–2021
| columns = 3
| column1 = [[Test cricket|Test]]
| column2 = [[One Day International|ODI]]
| column3 = [[Twenty20 International|T20I]]
| matches1 = 6
| matches2 = 31
| matches3 = 12
| runs1 = 455
| runs2 = 575
| runs3 = 225
| bat avg1 = 56.87
| bat avg2 = 27.38
| bat avg3 = 25.00
| 100s/50s1 = 1/3
| 100s/50s2 = 1/1
| 100s/50s3 = 0/2
| top score1 = 116
| top score2 = 114*
| top score3 = 84*
| deliveries1 = 156
| deliveries2 = 834
| deliveries3 = 149
| wickets1 = 3
| wickets2 = 22
| wickets3 = 5
| bowl avg1 = 38.00
| bowl avg2 = 32.86
| bowl avg3 = 40.80
| fivefor1 = 0
| fivefor2 = 0
| fivefor3 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0
| tenfor2 = 0
| tenfor3 = 0
| best bowling1 = 2/28
| best bowling2 = 3/10
| best bowling3 = 1/11
| catches/stumpings1 = 6/–
| catches/stumpings2 = 10/–
| catches/stumpings3 = 5/–
| date = 5 January 2019
| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/360456.html ESPNcricinfo
| medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Cricket]]}}
{{MedalCountry| {{SRI}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2014 Asian Games|2014 Incheon]]|[[Cricket at the 2014 Asian Games|Team]]}}
| module =
{{Infobox military person
|embed = yes
|name=Asela Gunaratne
|death_place=
|allegiance={{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Sri Lanka]]
|branch=[[Sri Lanka Army]]
|service_years=
|rank=[[Warrant officer|Warrant Officer II]]
|commands=
|unit=[[Sri Lanka Artillery]]
|battles=
|awards=
|relations=
}}
}}
'''Downdegedara Asela Sampath Gunaratne''', commonly known as '''Asela Gunaratne''' (born 8 January 1986) is a professional Sri Lankan [[cricket]]er, who played all forms of the game for Sri Lanka.<ref name="bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/360456.html |title=Asela Gunaratne |access-date=28 January 2016|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> Gunaratne is an aggressive right-handed batsman who occasionally bowls part-time medium pace. He is currently serving in the [[Sri Lanka Army]] as a [[Warrant officer]] attached to the 6th Field Regiment, [[Sri Lanka Artillery]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.army.lk/details.php?type=article&id=659 |title=Army Cricketers Selected for T-20 Tour in India |access-date=29 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911084045/http://www.army.lk/details.php?type=article&id=659 |archive-date=11 September 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="armypromo">{{Cite web|url=http://dailynews.lk/2017/03/01/local/109103/army-promotions-seekkuge-prasanna-and-asela-gunaratne |title=Army Promotions For Seekkuge Prasanna and Asela Gunaratne |access-date=1 March 2017 |work=News First}}</ref> He is a past pupil of [[Sri Rahula College, Kandy]].<ref name="school">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/1084100.html |title=Coach Kuruppu lauds 'reluctant' schoolboy cricketer Gunaratne's growth |access-date=24 February 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> In November 2017, he won four awards at [[Sri Lanka Cricket]]'s annual awards ceremony, including two awards for best [[all-rounder]].<ref name="Best17">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/21250141/asela-gunaratne-wins-big-slc-annual-awards |title=Gunaratne wins big at SLC's annual awards |access-date=1 November 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

==Domestic and T20 franchise career==
In February 2017, he was bought by the [[Mumbai Indians]] team for the [[2017 Indian Premier League]] for 30 [[lakh]]s.<ref name="IPL">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/indian-premier-league-2017/content/story/1083407.html |title=List of players sold and unsold at IPL auction 2017 |access-date=20 February 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

In March 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad for the [[2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament]].<ref name="STimes">{{cite news |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1041112/cricket-mixed-opinions-on-provincial-tournament |title=Cricket: Mixed opinions on Provincial tournament |publisher=Sunday Times (Sri Lanka) |date=26 March 2018 |access-date=27 March 2018 |archive-date=27 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327035550/http://www.sundaytimes.lk/article/1041112/cricket-mixed-opinions-on-provincial-tournament |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="DailyS">{{cite news |url=https://dailysports.lk/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-sl-super-provincial-tournament/ |title=All you need to know about the SL Super Provincial Tournament |publisher=Daily Sports |date=26 March 2018 |access-date=27 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327213128/https://dailysports.lk/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-sl-super-provincial-tournament/ |archive-date=27 March 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The following month, he was also named in Kandy's squad for the [[2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament]].<ref name="2018ODT">{{cite news |url=http://www.thepapare.com/slc-super-provincial-50-tournament-squads-fixtures/ |title=SLC Super Provincial 50 over tournament squads and fixtures |work=The Papare |access-date=27 April 2018}}</ref>

In August 2018, he was named in Galle's squad the 2018 SLC T20 League.<ref name="2018SLC">{{cite news |url=http://www.thepapare.com/slc-t20-league-2018-squads-finalized/ |title=SLC T20 League 2018 squads finalized |work=The Papare |access-date=16 August 2018}}</ref> In October 2018, he was named in the squad for the [[Comilla Victorians]] team, following the draft for the [[2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tigercricket.com.bd/2018/10/29/full-players-list-of-the-teams-following-players-draft-of-bpl-t20-2018-19/ |title=Full players list of the teams following Players Draft of BPL T20 2018-19 |work=Bangladesh Cricket Board |access-date=29 October 2018}}</ref> In March 2019, he was named in Kandy's squad for the [[2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thepapare.com/squads-fixtures-announced-for-slc-provincial-50-overs-tournament-2019/ |title=Squads, Fixtures announced for SLC Provincial 50 Overs Tournament |work=The Papare |access-date=19 March 2019}}</ref> In October 2020, he was drafted by the [[Kandy Tuskers]] for the [[2020 Lanka Premier League|inaugural edition]] of the [[Lanka Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/30148161/lanka-premier-league-2020-chris-gayle-andre-russell-shahid-afridi-big-names-taken-lpl-draft |title=Chris Gayle, Andre Russell and Shahid Afridi among big names taken at LPL draft |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 October 2020}}</ref> In August 2021, he was named in the SLC Reds team for the [[2021 SLC Invitational T20 League]] tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepapare.com/slc-invitational-t20-league-2021-squads-schedule/ |title=Sri Lanka Cricket announce Invitational T20 squads and schedule |work=The Papare |access-date=9 August 2021}}</ref> In November 2021, he was selected to play for the [[Kandy Warriors]] following the players' draft for the [[2021 Lanka Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/kusal-perera-angelo-mathews-miss-out-on-lpl-drafts-1288554 |title=Kusal Perera, Angelo Mathews miss out on LPL drafts |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=10 November 2021}}</ref>

==International career==
He was selected in the [[Twenty20 International]] (T20I) squad for Sri Lanka's [[Sri Lankan cricket team in India in 2015–16|tour to India]] in February 2016.<ref name="SLSquad">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/966253.html |title=Dilhara Fernando back in Sri Lanka T20 squad |access-date=28 January 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He made his T20I debut on 14 February 2016, scoring four runs. Sri Lanka lost the match by 9 wickets.<ref name="T20I">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/963701.html |title=Sri Lanka tour of India and Bangladesh, 3rd T20I: India v Sri Lanka at Visakhapatnam, Feb 14, 2016 |access-date=14 February 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

He made his [[Test cricket|Test]] debut for Sri Lanka [[Sri Lankan cricket team in Zimbabwe in 2016–17|against Zimbabwe]] on 29 October 2016.<ref name="Test">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1059702.html |title=Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe, 1st Test: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Oct 29 – Nov 2, 2016 |access-date=29 October 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He scored a fifty in the first innings of the first Test and scored his maiden Test century in the second match of the same tour.

He was selected in Sri Lanka's [[One Day International]] (ODI) team for [[2016–17 Zimbabwe Tri-Series|Tri-Series in Zimbabwe]], with [[West Indies national cricket team|West Indies]] being the third team.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tharanga named SL captain for tri-series |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/zimbabwe-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1064908.html |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media |date=5 November 2016 |access-date=5 November 2016 }}</ref> He made his ODI debut in the first match of the tri-series, against Zimbabwe and took 3 wickets.<ref name="ODI">{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1059710.html |title=Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series, 1st Match: Zimbabwe v Sri Lanka at Harare, Nov 14, 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media |date=14 November 2016 |access-date=14 November 2016 }}</ref>

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers to be awarded a national contract by [[Sri Lanka Cricket]] ahead of the 2018–19 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/692671 |title=Sri Lanka assign 33 national contracts with pay hike |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/story/_/id/23570424/sri-lankan-players-receive-pay-hike |title=Sri Lankan players to receive pay hike |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 May 2018}}</ref> In December 2018, he was named in Sri Lanka team for the [[2018 ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.srilankacricket.lk/news/sri-lanka-squad-for-the-acc-emerging-teams-cup-2018 |title=Sri Lanka Squad for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup 2018 |work=Sri Lanka Cricket |access-date=3 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203202707/http://www.srilankacricket.lk/news/sri-lanka-squad-for-the-acc-emerging-teams-cup-2018 |archive-date=3 December 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===South Africa 2017===
Gunaratne scored his maiden ODI century on 11 February 2017 [[Sri Lankan cricket team in South Africa in 2016-17|against South Africa]] at [[Centurion, Gauteng|Centurion]]. His score stands as the highest ODI score at number six against South Africa.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1081885.html |title=11 consecutive wins & Most 350-plus totals in ODIs |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media |date=10 February 2017 |access-date=10 February 2017 }}</ref> However, Sri Lanka lost the match by 88 runs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/south-africa-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1081840.html |title=Amla, de Kock tons lead SA to 5–0 and No. 1 |work=ESPNcricinfo |publisher=ESPN Sports Media |date=10 February 2017 |access-date=10 February 2017 }}</ref>

Gunaratne was the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI hundred when batting at number six and also holds the record for the highest ODI score for Sri Lanka when batting at number 6 (114 [[not out]]).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/SriLanka/ODI/Batting/Highest_Score_by_Batting_position.html|title=Highest Score by Batting Position|website=CricketArchive|access-date=16 February 2017|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

===Australia 2017===
On 17 February 2017, [[Sri Lanka cricket team in Australia in 2016–17|against Australia]], Gunaratne scored his maiden T20I fifty off 37 balls, helping the team to win the match by 5 wickets.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1082942.html |title=Sri Lanka sneak through after Gunaratne fifty |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1083019.html |title=Gunaratne's send-off, Tharanga's bittersweet day |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 February 2017}}</ref>

In the next T20I game he scored an unbeaten 84 runs off 46 balls to guide Sri Lanka to the series victory.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1083287.html|title=Gunaratne 84* caps stunning series win for Sri Lanka|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> He was adjudged man of the match in both games for his match-winning performances. Gunaratne set the record for the highest T20I score batting at number five or lower for Sri Lanka, with 84 [[not out]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Records/SriLanka/International_Twenty20/Batting/Highest_Score_by_Batting_position.html |title=Highest Score by Batting position |website=CricketArchive |access-date=22 February 2017|url-access=subscription}}</ref> Gunaratne scored 37 runs off last 12 deliveries of the match to seal the game for Sri Lanka and they won their third consecutive T20I series win against Australia in Australia.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-sri-lanka-2016-17/content/story/1083358.html |title=Sri Lanka's perfect record in Australia|work=ESPNcricinfo|access-date=19 February 2017}}</ref> After the third T20I, Gunaratne won the award for the player of the series.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1001353.html |title=Sri Lanka tour of Australia, 3rd T20I: Australia v Sri Lanka at Adelaide, Feb 22, 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=22 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thepapare.com/sri-lanka-cricket-asela-gunarathne-did-the-impossible-social-media-reactions/|title=Asela Gunaratne did the impossible – Social Media Reacts|last=Caffoor|first=Inshaf|date=19 February 2017|work=ThePapare.com|access-date=28 March 2017}}</ref>

===Zimbabwe 2017===
In one-off Test against Zimbabwe in July 2017, Gunaratne scored a match-winning unbeaten 80 to seal the match in a record chase. He along with [[Niroshan Dickwella]] made a 121-run stand partnership for the sixth wicket.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-zimbabwe-2017/content/story/1111821.html |title=Dickwella asked me to keep talking to him – Gunaratne |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref> Sri Lanka won the match by 4 wickets by successfully chasing a total of 388, which was the highest successful chase by Sri Lanka in Tests and also as the highest successful run-chase in Asia.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-zimbabwe-2017/content/story/1111759.html |title=Sri Lanka pull off highest successful chase in Asia |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref> Gunaratne played the whole five-days with an injury, however his match winning innings gave him his maiden Test man of the match award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-zimbabwe-2017/content/story/1111717.html |title=Dickwella, Gunaratne star in record chase |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=18 July 2017}}</ref>

===India 2017===
During the first match against India at Galle, Gunaratne was injured with a fracture in his left thumb. The injury occurred when he dived to take a catch of [[Shikhar Dhawan]], while fielding at second slip. With that, he was taken to the hospital, where doctors advised him to quit playing for six to eight weeks following reconstructive surgery in Colombo. Therefore, Sri Lanka played the match with 10 players and finally lost the match by 304 runs. Finally, Gunaratne was dropped from the whole India tour.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/sri-lanka-v-india-2017/content/story/1112637.html |title=Gunaratne out of India series, to undergo surgery on thumb |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=26 July 2017}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{cricinfo|id=360456}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gunaratne, Asela}}
[[Category:1986 births]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in cricket]]
[[Category:Cricketers at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Kurunegala Warriors cricketers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cricketers from Kandy]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan cricketers]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Test cricketers]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka One Day International cricketers]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Twenty20 International cricketers]]
[[Category:21st-century Sri Lankan sportsmen]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Army Sports Club cricketers]]
[[Category:Sri Lanka Artillery soldiers]]
[[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Asian Games cricketers for Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan expatriate cricketers in India]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan expatriate cricketers in Bangladesh]]
[[Category:Lahore Qalandars cricketers]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan expatriate cricketers in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Jaffna Kings cricketers]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2014 Asian Games]]
[[Category:Sheikh Jamal Dhanmondi Club cricketers]]
[[Category:Kandy Royals cricketers]]

Asela Gunaratne - Revision history

OdessaProsser28: Added A Stub.