Personal info
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Public Figures

Gender

Female

Birthday

09 February

Location

North Western Province, Sri Lanka

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Chamari Athapaththu

Biography

Chamari Athapaththu, born on February 9, 1990, in Gokarella, Sri Lanka, stands as an undisputed icon of Sri Lankan women's cricket. A dynamic left-handed opening batter and a shrewd right-arm off-break bowler, Athapaththu is renowned for her aggressive batting style, inspirational leadership, and her ability to single-handedly change the course of a match.

 

 

Early Life and Introduction to Cricket: Athapaththu's passion for cricket was ignited at a young age, reportedly inspired by legendary Sri Lankan cricketer Sanath Jayasuriya. She quickly developed her skills, becoming known for her fearless approach to batting. Her talent was evident early on, leading to her fast-tracking into the national setup.

 

 

International Debut and Rise to Captaincy: Chamari Athapaththu made her T20I debut for Sri Lanka in 2009 and her ODI debut in 2010. She quickly established herself as a vital member of the team, not just for her runs but also for her leadership qualities. She has been the long-standing captain of the Sri Lankan women's team, leading them through challenging periods and inspiring them to significant victories.

 

 

Her batting is characterized by power and audacious strokeplay. She's known for taking on bowlers from the outset, hitting boundaries with ease, and setting an attacking tone at the top of the order. With the ball, her off-spin provides crucial breakthroughs and control in the middle overs.

 

 

Career Highlights and Record-Breaking Achievements:

  • Sri Lanka's Greatest: Athapaththu is widely regarded as the greatest female cricketer Sri Lanka has ever produced, a sentiment reinforced by her records and the impact she has had on the team's performances.
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  • Highest Individual ODI Score for Sri Lanka: She holds the record for the highest individual score by a Sri Lankan woman in ODIs, with a magnificent unbeaten 195 runs against South Africa in April 2024. This was part of a record-breaking chase, where she single-handedly led Sri Lanka to seal the first-ever 300-plus chase in Women's ODIs.
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  • World Cup Masterclass: Her incredible 178 not out against Australia in the 2017 ICC Women's World Cup stands out as one of the most remarkable innings in World Cup history, showcasing her ability to dominate even the strongest bowling attacks.
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  • Prolific Century Scorer: Athapaththu is the first and only Sri Lankan woman to have scored an ODI century, and holds the unique distinction of having the top 12 highest individual scores for Sri Lanka in ODIs, including all of their nine centuries.
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  • First T20I Asia Cup Century: In July 2024, she became the first player to score a century in the Women's T20 Asia Cup, smashing an unbeaten 119 against Malaysia.
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  • Consistent All-Rounder: She is a consistent performer with both bat and ball, often featuring in top international rankings for batters and all-rounders.
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  • Franchise Cricket Star: Athapaththu is a highly sought-after player in global franchise leagues, having played for teams like Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers in the Women's Big Bash League (WBBL), where she won the Player of the Tournament award in WBBL|09. She has also featured in the Women's Premier League (WPL) for UP Warriorz.
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  • Numerous Domestic Awards: She regularly sweeps top individual awards at the Sri Lanka Cricket Awards, including Women's Cricketer of the Year and various batting, bowling, and all-rounder awards in both ODI and T20I formats.

 

Chamari Athapaththu's career is a testament to her immense talent, unwavering commitment, and her ability to inspire a relatively less-experienced team to challenge top cricketing nations. She remains a powerful force in women's cricket, continuing to break barriers and redefine what's possible for Sri Lankan players on the world stage.