Nuwan Thushara, aka Podi Malinga, is an orthodox Sri Lankan player who has come into spotlight with his unorthodox slinging bowling action a la Lasith Malinga. He was born on 6 August 1994 and has played for Sri Lanka in limited overs cricket and made an impact in the IPL playing with the Mumbai Indians. He became the 5th Sri Lankan bowler to do a hat-trick in T20 Internationals and thereby demonstrated that he can perform at the international arena. His story of cracking cricket in small towns to the national and international scene is amazingly wonderful.
Nuwan Thushara: Profile
Nuwan Thushara is popular because of his slinging-arm bowling technique that made him be identified as the little Malinga. He has featured in various local leagues in the world such as Lanka Premier League, Pakistan Super League, ILT20 and IPL.
| Field | Details |
| Full Name | Ilandari Dewage Nuwan Thushara |
| Nickname | Podi Malinga |
| Profession | Cricketer (Bowler) |
| Date of Birth | 6 August 1994 (Saturday) |
| Birthplace | Thalawa, Alpitiya, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Batting Style | Right-hand Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm Medium Fast |
| Jersey Number | #53 (Sri Lanka) |
| IPL Team | Mumbai Indians |
Nuwan Thushara Age & Physical Status
Nuwan Thushara is 31 years old as of March 2026. He was born 6 August 1994 in Thalawa, Sri Lanka. He entered the professional cricket career a bit late in life as compared to the other players but rose to the ranks quickly due to his steady performance.
| Detail | Information |
| Age (March 2026) | 31 Years |
| Zodiac | Leo |
Nuwan Thushara is athletic, and such a feature adds to his fast-bowling skills. His bowling action is the highlight of him His pace and sling-arm action can be surprising to anyone and can leave the batters guessing at a time.
| Measurement | Detail |
| Height | 5’7″ (170 cm) |
| Weight | 70–72 kg (approx.) |
| Eye Colour | Black |
| Hair Colour | Black |
Educational Qualifications
Nuwan did his preliminary education at Thalawa Junior National School, Elpitiya, Sri Lanka. He was more interested in cricket than in academics and his school supported the interest.
| Detail | Information |
| School | Thalawa Junior National School, Elpitiya |
| Higher Studies | Not Known |
Early Life
Nuwan Thushara is a middle-class family born in Thalawa, Sri Lanka. His father, Illandari Dewage, and mother, Nirmala Dewage, were very supportive in ensuring his early life led to his choice of going into cricket. He also has a brother Isuru Thushara who has supported him all through his career. Under the constant support of his family, Nuwan was able to transform his lifelong interest in tennis ball cricket into a professional career that later resulted in the international representation of Sri Lanka.
Family Members
| Family Member | Name | Role/Details |
| Father | Illandari Dewage | Supportive figure in his cricket journey |
| Mother | Nirmala Dewage | Encouraged and motivated him |
| Brother | Isuru Thushara | Always supportive |
| Upbringing | – | Raised in a supportive, middle-class Sri Lankan family |
Personal Life and Marrital Status
Nuwan Thushara has married Sanduni Iresha, although in his private life he manages not to attract the attention of the media. The duo has not publicly announced how they got into the relationship, but Nuwan likes to keep privacy intact. The couple may have a son, though some reports and social media inclinations have not confirmed it. His past relationships are unknown and his family is not in the spotlights of the world at all.
| Detail | Information |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Sanduni Iresha |
| Children | Reportedly has a son (unconfirmed) |
| Past Affairs | None publicly known |
| Privacy | Keeps personal matters private |
Nuwan Thushara Professional Career
It is about Nuwan Thushara and his cricket career is all about struggle and hard-work.
Domestic / Club Career
- First-class debut 26 December 2015 (2015- 2016 Premier League Tournament) First-class debut (Sinhalese Sports Club).
- He made his debut on 10 March 2018 playing in Colombo cricket club.
- Played in the Lanka Premier League in the teams of Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings.
- Played franchises in the different leagues around the world such as Quetta Gladiators (PSL), MI Cape Town (SA20), Dubai Capitals (ILT20), and Deccan Gladiators (T10).
International Career
- T20I debut: 2022 v India (later came to be regarded as a regular bowler).
- He took a hat-trick and five-wicket haul against Bangladesh in T20 internationals, making headlines amid the media worldwide on 9 March 2024.
IPL Career
- In 2024, he was signed by Mumbai Indians.
- IPL debut: 22 April 2024 vs Rajasthan Royals.
| Career Format | Debut | Opponent | Venue |
| ODI | 13 Feb 2022 | Australia | Sydney |
| Test | Did Not Play | – | – |
| T20I | 2022 | India | – |
| IPL | 22 Apr 2024 | Rajasthan Royals | India |
Nuwan Thushara Stats
Career Bowling Stats
| Format | Matches | Wickets | Economy | Average |
| T20I (2022–) | 21 | 29 | 7.70 | 18.0 |
| IPL (2024–) | 8 | 9 | 9.43 | 31.4 |
| 1st Class (2015–19) | 5 | 2 | 4.56 | 118.5 |
| List A (2018–) | 44 | 50 | 5.17 | 23.6 |
| T20 (2022–) | 123 | 165 | 8.10 | 19.6 |
Career Batting Stats
| Format | Matches | Runs | Average | Strike Rate |
| T20I (2022–) | 21 | 9 | 4.5 | 52.9 |
| 1st Class (2015–19) | 5 | 2 | 0.7 | 8.0 |
| List A (2018–) | 44 | 10 | 2.5 | 12.5 |
| T20 (2022–) | 123 | 40 | 3.0 | 67.8 |
Career Fielding Stats
| Format | Catches | Run Outs | Stumpings |
| T20I (2022–) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| IPL (2024–) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1st Class (2015–19) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| List A (2018–) | 6 | 0 | 0 |
Recent Matches
| Date | Tournament | Opponent | Bowling Figures | Result |
| Jan 07, 2026 | Int’l T20 | Pakistan | 0/31 (2.0 ov) | Lost |
| Dec 12, 2025 | ILT20 | Desert Vipers | 0/40 (3.5 ov) | Played for Gulf Giants |
| Dec 10, 2025 | ILT20 | Sharjah Warriors | 0/44 (4.0 ov) | Played for Gulf Giants |
| Dec 08, 2025 | ILT20 | Desert Vipers | 2/33 (4.0 ov) | Won |
| Dec 04, 2025 | ILT20 | MI Emirates | 2/41 (4.0 ov) | Played for Gulf Giants |
| Nov 20, 2025 | PAK Tri-Series | Zimbabwe | 0/30 (3.0 ov) | Won |
| Sept 26, 2025 | Asia Cup | India | 0/43 (4.0 ov) | Lost |
| Sept 09, 2025 | Asia Cup | TBD | 4/18 (4.0 ov) | Won |
Achievements and Records
He became the 5th Sri Lankan bowler to take a T20I hat-trick, joining legends like Lasith Malinga.
| Year | Achievement |
| 2015 | First-class debut for Sinhalese Sports Club |
| 2018 | List A debut for Colombo Cricket Club |
| 2022 | ODI debut against Australia |
| 2024 | Took a T20I hat-trick vs Bangladesh |
| 2024 | Claimed his first five-wicket haul in T20 internationals |
Interesting Facts
- His nickname is Podi Malinga in Sinhalese meaning little Malinga.
- He began with tennis ball cricket and joined professional cricket life.
- A local politician saw him in a six-a-side tournament and backed up his attempt.
- His bowling action is almost the same with Lasith Malinga, his Idol.
- He played in as many leagues as he could across the world and then got his IPL debut.
IPL Experiences
Sri Lankan speedster Nuwan Thushara debuted in the IPL in 2024 and has already represented two of the most recognized franchises the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). As he has a sling-like action like Lasith Malinga he has become an option in the powerplay and death overs.
IPL Teams and Auction History
Having entered the IPL in the 2024 auction, Tushara immediately turned out to be the noticeable acquisition.
| Year | Team | Auction Price | Auction Notes |
| 2024 | Mumbai Indians (MI) | ₹4.8 crore | Bought after a bidding tussle; MI wanted him for his Malinga-like slingy pace |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) | ₹1.6 crore | Picked at the mega auction from base price of ₹75 lakh |
Role and Playing Style
- Bowling Role: Right arm medium medium fast )
- Action: Slinging action the ability has been likened to Lasith Malinga
- Usage: This is used mostly during the powerplay overs to move the new ball and during the death overs to bowl yorkers and slower balls
IPL Teams
- At MI: Support gave depth with Jasprit Bumrah and Coetzee.
- At RCB: Joined a restructured pace line up of high-profile foreign fast bowlers.
IPL Matches Stats
- To date, Nuwan Thushara has been featured in 8 IPL matches with the majority of them featuring in 2024.
| Season | Team | Matches | Notes |
| 2024 | MI | 7 | Impressed with pace and yorkers, though used selectively in rotation |
| 2025 | RCB | 1 (early appearances) | Limited games due to strong competition in pace attack |
Notable Highlights
- 2024 Debut Season (MI):
- The media compared him heavily with Lasith Malinga, and MI’s coaching staff backed him as a death overs option.
- His high auction price showed MI’s belief in his potential.
- 2025 Move to RCB:
- RCB invested ₹1.6 crore, reflecting faith in his ability as a strike bowler.
- Though competition for fast-bowling slots is high, he remains a key squad member.
Auction Summary Table
| Year | Team | Base Price | Sold Price | Winning Bidder |
| 2024 | MI | ₹50 lakh | ₹4.8 crore | Mumbai Indians |
| 2025 | RCB | ₹75 lakh | ₹1.6 crore | Royal Challengers Bengaluru |
Nuwan Thushara Net Worth
The approximate net worth of Nuwan Thushara as of 2025 is 15 crore (approximately 1.8 million USD) using various sports media outlets. He is contracted by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) and earns money through match fees, IPL deals, Lanka premier league as well as involvement in overseas T20 leagues. He also gets a lesser fraction of endorsements.
He was signed by Mumbai Indians in the IPL back in 2024 to the tune of 4.8 crores and on his transfer to Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2025 he was purchased at a price of 1.6 crores, which showed an increment in his overall wealth. According to report, his SLC central contract earns him around USD 40,000 a year. In online sources his net worth is given unpredictably because of differences in calculation and the inclusion of endorsements, but is estimated to be about 15 crore (or 150 million) in total, Indian rupees.
| Source of Income | Estimated Earnings |
| IPL 2024 (Mumbai Indians) | ₹4.8 crore |
| IPL 2025 (RCB) | ₹1.6 crore |
| Sri Lanka Cricket (Annual) | USD 40,000 (₹33 lakh) |
| Other T20 Leagues (LPL, PSL, ILT20) | ₹2–3 crore approx. |
| Endorsements & Sponsorships | Limited, not widely disclosed |
| Total Estimated Net Worth (2025) | ₹15 crore (~USD 1.8M) |
Nuwan Thusara Social Media Profiles
Nuwan utilizes social media and is active and interacting with his fans. He shares cricket matches he plays and his cricketing training and personal life events.
| Platform | Profile | Followers (2024) |
| @nuwan.thushara53 | 168K+ | |
| Nuwan Thushara | 15K+ | |
| @NuwanThushara53 | 2863 |
Conclusion
The story of Nuwan Thushara explains the ability to work very hard and suddenly the player is off to a new world of tournament cricketing like the IPL and international matches. A sling-arm fast bowler, he is a carry-precursor of the family of sling-arm bowlers in Sri Lanka that have served the Sri Lankan national cricket team. His ability and ambition will help him to further success in future years.
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Refresh Date: March 19, 2026
