Mumbai Indians’ ‘New Malinga’ claims a T20I hat-trick ahead of IPL 2024

Since making his debut for Sri Lanka in February 2022, Nuwan Thushara has drawn comparisons with the legendary Lasith Malinga. Like the former Sri Lankan pacer, Nuwan also bowls with a slinging action, making it tough for batters to judge his deliveries. The 29-year-old pacer has a huge opportunity as his services have been acquired by the Mumbai Indians, who paid 4.8 crores in the IPL 2024 auction.

MI pacer Nuwan Thushara takes a T20I hat-trick against Bangladesh

IPL is now two weeks away, and ahead of the mega event, Nuwan Thushara has showcased why the Mukesh Ambani-owned franchise has placed trust in him. In the 3rd T20I against Bangladesh on March 9, Thushara went on to take a hat-trick. In the match, the host Bangladesh opted to bowl first, and Sri Lanka posted 174 runs on the board.

All thanks to Nuwan Thushara, Bangladesh were put on the back foot early in the innings. In the 4th over of the Bangladesh innings, Thushara sent back Najmul Hossain Shanto, Towhid Hridoy, and Mahmudullah in three successive deliveries. The first two were castled, while the latter was dismissed through LBW. Here’s the video.

With a 28-run win in the game, Sri Lanka clinched the series by 2-1 and Nuwan Thusara was named man of the match for taking a 5-wicket haul. After the match Nuwan said, “I’m really happy, it was the first hat-trick in my life,” he said afterward. “In a match like this, I’m just pleased to be able to help the team”

Nuwan Thushara’s hat-trick in the 3rd T20I against Bangladesh marked him as the 5th Sri Lankan bowler to achieve this feat in international T20 cricket. The other four Sri Lankan bowlers to accomplish a hat-trick in T20Is are Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga (twice), Akila Dhananjaya, and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Additionally, Thushara’s hat-trick is the 57th in the history of T20I cricket. Sri Lankan bowlers have claimed the most hat-tricks in this format, totaling 6. New Zealand bowlers come next with 5 T20I hat-tricks, while Australia follows with 3 hat-tricks. Notably, Deepak Chahar is the sole Indian bowler to have taken a hat-trick for India in T20I cricket.

Nuwan Thushara is among the 7 dedicated pace bowlers in Mumbai Indians’ squad for IPL 2024. Jasprit Bumrah remains MI’s go-to bowler, while the in-form Gerald Coetzee could emerge as their next-best option in the IPL 2024 season. The competition for the third pacer’s spot is among Jason Behrendorff, Akash Madhwal, Dilshan Madhushanka, Arjun Tendulkar, and Nuwan Thushara.

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In the initial games, Mumbai Indians may opt to play Akash Madhwal, given that he is an Indian uncapped player. This choice provides them with flexibility to field more overseas players at the top and middle order.