There was a big uproar when Royal Challengers Bangalore released star spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. Cricket experts said that Royal Challengers Bangalore is going to miss Chahal badly.
This was followed by a mega auction for season 15. In which RCB added Wanindu Hasranga with them for 10.75 crores. However, Royal Challengers Bangalore fans weren’t happy about his selection in the team. He cost a lot. Also, he didn’t have any prior experience in the IPL. It was said that when so much money had to be spent, why not take Chahal?
Surprisingly, the 23-years old leg spinner has stunned everyone with his ability to take wickets at crucial times. In the first match, he started with a wicket but was smacked for a few boundaries.
In the second match, Wanindu silenced his critics with a wonderful performance. In the match number six of IPL 2022 played between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Kolkata Knight Riders, Wanindu Hasaranga took four wickets in the spell of four overs to hand RCB the first win of the season.
Earlier in the T20 World Cup, Wanindu Hasaranga made headlines because of his ability to bowl in adversary conditions. He was the highest wicket taker in the World Cup 2021 with an impressive figures of 16 wickets in 8 matches.
In the match, Royal Challengers Bangalore captain Faf du Plessis won the toss and decided to bowl first. The bowlers of RCB proved the captain’s decision absolutely right. In the very beginning, Akash Deep dismissed Venkatesh Iyer and Nitish Rana. On the other hand, Mohammad Siraj trapped Kolkata Knight Riders in the powerplay by taking out the big wicket of Ajinkya Rahane.
After this, the captain entrusted his star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to wrap up KKR’s innings quickly. In the very first over after the powerplay, Wanindu removed the big wicket of Kolkata captain Shreyas Iyer. He showed the way to the captain by getting him caught out by the captain. But this was just the beginning.
In the ninth over, Hasranga again came on the attack and this time he removed Sunil Narine, who was seen look threatening. He dismantled Kolkata’s middle order by getting Narine. And then on the next ball of the over, he also sent back wicketkeeper Sheldon Jackson.
He cleaned up Sheldon on his googly and made arrangements to wrap up KKR before 100. Wanindu Hasaranga completed his four wickets in the 15th over. This time, Tim Southee was his prey. Hasaranga conceded just 20 runs in the spell of four overs. After this unmatched performance, he has also become a purple cap holder. He took one wicket in the first match. Due to this spell of Hasranga, the entire team of KKR was all-out after scoring 128 runs in 18.5 overs.
Along with the bowling of Hasranga in the match, his celebration was also very much discussed. Hasranga told about this later,
“I am really happy. Specially with the dew it is very hard to bowl. My favorite footballer is Neymar and that is his celebration which I do.”