6. Dimuth Karunaratne – 6.5/10
The winds have changed in Sri Lankan cricket. Before the World Cup last year, they were changing captains left, right and centre. However, the arrival of Dimuth Karunaratne has changed things. The success he got in South Africa where he led the team to an unbelievable 2-0 Test series win helped the selectors gain trust in him as a leader.
Thus, he was handed the ODI captaincy ahead of the World Cup as well. Sri Lanka didn’t have a great World Cup but they did manage to shock the eventual world champions England and beat them in the group stage. Moreover, Sri Lanka have won seven ODIs in 2019 and all of them have come under Karunaratne’s rein who has led them in only 11 matches.
The left-handed opener has been good with the bat as well. He has made 396 runs from 11 innings and has been solid at the top of the order. Thus, given the change in fortunes he’s bought and his good form, he gets 6.5/10.
