Theekshana’s Magic with the Ball
Maheesh Theekshana is no ordinary spin bowler. He brings a unique mix of drift, dip, turn, and pace to his game, making him a special talent in the world of cricket. While many spinners rely on just turn and flight, Theekshana adds an extra ingredient—pace. For instance, his deliveries often clock around 96-100 kph, a speed not many spinners can achieve while still getting the ball to spin.
Theekshana’s recent performance against West Indies in the second ODI highlighted his extraordinary abilities. In just his third ball of the match, he bowled a delivery that had everything: drift, dip, turn, and pace. The ball deceived Alick Athanaze, beating his forward defense and crashing into the stumps. It was a textbook dismissal, except for one unique twist—it was bowled at 96 kph.
Conditions Suited for Spin
The pitch at Pallekele Stadium was perfect for spin bowling, making it easier for spinners to get the ball to turn. However, comparing Theekshana’s performance to other spinners like Charith Asalanka would be unfair. Yes, the conditions favored spin, but very few bowlers could have taken advantage of them as skillfully as Theekshana did.
Throughout the West Indies innings, Theekshana consistently bowled at high speeds, getting his off-breaks to spin sharply. In contrast, other bowlers like Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage managed to get turn but only at slower speeds, while Gudakesh Motie could match the pace but lacked the same venom.
A Tough Day for West Indies
Theekshana dismissed Keacy Carty twice in quick succession. The first delivery spun sharply at 97 kph, surprising Carty as he shaped up for a cut shot. Although Sri Lanka’s appeal for LBW was turned down, Theekshana didn’t give up. His very next ball was another fast off-break that broke through Carty’s defense, leaving him bewildered as his off stump was knocked back.
His final wicket came with his signature carrom ball, as Hayden Walsh Jr‘s reverse sweep attempt failed, resulting in the stumps being rattled once again.
A Player to Watch
Theekshana’s efforts earned him the Player-of-the-Match award, with impressive figures of 3 for 25 in nine overs. What made this even more remarkable was that he wasn’t initially in the playing XI; his inclusion was a last-minute decision due to rain.
Despite his talent, Sri Lanka is yet to fully tap into Theekshana’s potential in ODIs and Tests. Although his economy rate in ODIs (4.61) and T20Is (6.76) shows his ability to contain runs, he hasn’t consistently been used as a primary wicket-taker. This match, however, demonstrated that he can indeed run through batting line-ups when given the chance.
The Future Looks Bright
At just 24 years old, Theekshana has a promising career ahead of him. He’s already shown significant improvement in his skills, including his batting. With time, he could become one of the leading bowlers in all formats, not just in T20s.
As his teammate Charith Asalanka said after the win, “He is a world-class bowler in the T20 format.” If Theekshana continues on this path, he might soon drop the “T20” qualifier and be known as a world-class bowler across all formats.