Full Name: Narangoda Liyanaarachchige Thisara Chirantha Perera Date of Birth: April 3, 1989 Birthplace: Colombo, Sri Lanka Role: Left-Handed Batting All-Rounder | Right-Arm Medium-Fast Bowler With jersey number 9 on his back and raw energy in his stride, Thisara Perera became the face of Sri Lankan aggression in white-ball cricket for over a decade. A powerful striker of the ball and a handy medium-pacer, Thisara was known as much for his match-turning cameos as for his booming sixes and larger-than-life persona. Born in Colombo, he attended St. Joseph’s College, a school renowned for producing quality cricketers. From early on, Thisara was identified as a gifted athlete—a big hitter with a knack for breaking partnerships and delivering under pressure. His fearless attitude and aggressive instincts made him a perfect fit for the modern limited-overs game. Thisara made his ODI debut in 2009 against India and wasted no time making his presence felt. In 2010, he famously took a hat-trick against India in an ODI—a rare feat that signaled his ability to turn games on his own. He was soon a regular fixture in both ODIs and T20Is, delivering crucial spells with the ball and explosive finishes with the bat. His batting heroics were often unforgettable. One of his most iconic innings came against South Africa in 2012, when he blasted 69 off 44 balls, singlehandedly rescuing a collapsing innings. He was particularly lethal during the 2014 ICC T20 World Cup, where his aggressive cameo in the final helped Sri Lanka clinch the title—a crowning moment in his career. Perera's six-hitting ability was unmatched in Sri Lanka’s ranks. In 2019, he smashed 140 off just 74 balls against New Zealand in a losing cause—an innings full of brute power and unshakable belief. It remains one of the greatest ODI knocks ever played by a Sri Lankan despite the result. He holds the Sri Lankan record for most sixes in an ODI innings (13). As a bowler, Thisara wasn't express pace, but his clever changes of length and ability to strike at key moments made him a go-to man in the middle overs. He often broke stubborn partnerships and was reliable at the death when his variations came into play. Despite all his heroics, Thisara's career was not without challenges. His inconsistency, fitness issues, and streaky form often drew criticism. He was in and out of the side frequently but always made strong comebacks, often silencing doubters with one thunderous innings or a game-changing spell. Off the field, Thisara was admired for his humility and patriotism. In 2021, he retired from international cricket at the age of 32, choosing to make way for younger players. Even after retirement, he remains active in franchise cricket and coaching, sharing his knowledge with the next generation. With jersey number 9, Thisara Perera will always be remembered as a spirited warrior—a man who could change a match in minutes, who never backed down from a challenge, and who gave everything in Sri Lanka’s cause.