Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka)
Tuesday, December 24 2002 15:08 Hrs (IST)

Arjuna Ranatunga is widely known and respected throughout the cricketing fraternity for leading Sri Lanka to victory in the 1996 World Cup. It was the first time Sri Lanka had ever won the World Cup. Ranatunga was one of the most able captains of his time and was responsible for the popular trend of pinch-hitting in the first 15 overs.

With the help of his two explosive openers, Jayasuriya and Kaluwitharna, his side would amass a huge total, which would then place immense pressure on the opposition. With perfect field placing and a talented team, he showed the world what an underdog is capable of.

Ranatunga made his One-day debut in the year 1982 against England and his World Cup debut in the year 1983 against Pakistan. He has played 29 World Cup matches and scored a total of 919 runs at an average of 45.95. This average can be better appreciated when one sees that he used to bat down the order for Sri Lanka.

His highest score is an unbeaten 88, which he scored in the game against Zimbabwe successfully chasing a mammoth total of 312 .He has scored six 50s. However, he has never scored a century in any of the World Cups that he played.

Ranatunga used to bowl gentle off spin occasionally and he brought himself on more to unsettle the batsmen rather than to contain the opposition. His best bowling figures were 2 for 26 runs against South Africa in the 1992 Benson and Hedges World Cup. Sri Lanka won that game by three wickets.

Ranatunga was one of the few captains who inspired his players to win against all odds. He had a remarkable insight into cricket and was responsible for bringing about one of the most famous World Cup exploits to date.

Compiled by Ramnath Bhat

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