Twenty-eight overs into the contest in Jaipur, Rajasthan Royals (RR) were keeping pace with Gujarat Titans (GT). They were 86 for 3 in seven overs, chasing 230. Dhruv Jurel looked like he had excised his slow-batting demons. He was on 24 off 9 and ready to go bigger. Then, Rashid Khan spun one past Jurel’s slog to peg back his stumps. It was the first of his four wickets. On a night of spin chokeholds by both RR and GT, Rashid’s spell of 4 for 36 was the point of difference between both sides.

At the end of it all, GT zoomed up to second spot in the points table with 14 points. It was their fourth consecutive win, as they continued their late surge in this IPL.

Earlier in the evening, half-centuries from Shubman Gill and B Sai Sudarshan – and their 118-run opening partnership – headlined GT’s biggest IPL score outside Ahmedabad. They had been greeted by an all-pink Jaipur. RR’s jerseys were the same colour, in honour of their women’s empowerment movement. By the end of the powerplay, Gill and Sudharsan couldn’t have felt more at home themselves. They had raced away to 82 for 0, and alongside Rashid’s spell, they headlined a 77-run win.

Jofra Archer took 11 deliveries to get through the first over of the match. It featured nine extras and was the longest opening over in the history of the tournament. By the end of it, Gill and Sai Sudharsan – without taking any big risks – had raced away to 18 for no loss. This was the theme of the powerplay: the opening pair kept getting balls on their pads or bouncers shooting way over their heads. They played most of their shots in the ‘V’ down the ground. By the end of the first six, they were just 18 runs away from their ninth 100-plus partnership, the second-best tally in the IPL, just behind Virat Kohli and AB de Villiers.

Despite their big start, Gill and Sai Sudharsan slowed down in characteristic fashion. Both of them reached their fifties off 30 balls. Yash Raj Punja (1 for 37) and Ravindra Jadeja (1 for 34) did not find much turn off the surface, but bowling in tandem through the middle overs, they cut off the risk-free boundary options for the opening pair.

A leg injury while running between wickets affected Gill’s running as well. Punja took out Sai Sudharsan for 55 off 36, holing out to long-on, and Jadeja speared in a delivery to Jos Buttler at 107kph to rush him on a drive straight to long-off.

Ratnapura is fondly known as the ‘City of Gems’. It is fair to say that Sri Lanka’s gemstone capital has turned more ordinary men into billionaires than any other corner of the island. Many locals believe the blessings of the sacred Maha Saman Devalaya, situated in the heart of the city, are behind the prosperity that adorns many homes there. They may as well add another name to that glittering list. He is neither a miner nor a gem trader. He is a cricketer who answers to the name of Eshan Malinga.

Malinga is currently the second highest wicket-taker in this season’s IPL. His stocks continue to soar with every outing as captains increasingly trust him with the toughest assignment in T20 cricket – the death overs. He does not possess the sling-shot action of his namesake Lasith Malinga nor the express pace of Dushmantha Chameera. What the new Malinga has mastered instead is the dying art of reverse swing.

More often than not, he is introduced during the closing stages of the innings and has made a habit of getting the old ball to talk. Add to that his clever variations – slower balls, wide yorkers and sharp changes of pace – and his armoury suddenly looks complete.

The IPL is a breeding ground for elite fast bowlers. There’s Kagiso Rabada, Pat Cummins and Jasprit Bumrah, while rising stars such as Marco Jansen and Arshdeep Singh continue to make waves. Amid all these celebrated names, Malinga is not merely holding his own; he is carving out an identity for himself. Bought for just over USD 100,000 last season, expect his value to multiply several times over by the next auction.

Some may wonder how Ratnapura, hardly known as a cricketing hub, produced a fast bowler of Eshan Malinga’s calibre. His breakthrough came when Airtel conducted a fastest bowler competition. Malinga won it comfortably and caught the eye of Sri Lanka Cricket Fast Bowling Coach Darshana Gamage, who was impressed not merely by the pace, but also by the youngster’s attitude and perseverance.

Gamage recommended him to several clubs and Ragama moved swiftly to secure his services. That is where the Ratnapura gem was polished.

Ragama Cricket Club has survived on a shoestring budget despite competing in First Class cricket for nearly three decades. While traditional outstation strongholds such as Kandy, Galle and Kurunegala have struggled to stay afloat, Ragama’s longevity is remarkable, especially considering they do not even own a ground. Scratch beneath the surface and you discover a handful of diehard office bearers who kept the club alive by pumping in their own money during an era when Sri Lanka Cricket’s support for domestic cricket was painfully inadequate.

Despite limited means, Ragama always looked after their players. Youngsters arriving from outstations were provided accommodation and meals and Eshan Malinga was among those who benefited from the programme.

Luck, however, did not always bowl in his favour. Just when he was beginning to break through, injury struck. He was referred to Sri Lanka Cricket’s medical unit, only to be turned away because he was not a contracted player.

Ragama’s officials stepped in and funded his treatment themselves before sending him back onto the park. But cruelly, he broke down once again and spent another lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Selectors, however, had been monitoring him closely and he eventually earned his maiden national call-up during last year’s tour of New Zealand. Sunrisers Hyderabad too liked what they saw and quickly snapped him up. Today, he is not merely a permanent fixture in the side, but a genuine match-winner.

Malinga was part of Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad, but a freak injury ruled him out of the tournament and the team sorely missed his services. At just 25, he has the potential to become a key figure in Sri Lanka’s fast bowling future. Hopefully he does. Yet history suggests otherwise.

Last season, when Ragama CC were battling relegation, the club appealed to Malinga – someone they had nurtured and supported through thick and thin – to turn out for a crucial must-win game. The fast bowler declined the request. Ragama were relegated. Soon after, Malinga moved on, abandoning the club that had stood by him when few others did.

Just not cricket.

by Rex Clementine

The news of Ananda’s untimely and sudden passing left me utterly shocked, struggling to find the words to express the depth of my sadness.

Ananda stands out as one of the most remarkable figures in the history of Sri Lankan swimming. His contributions and achievements in the sport have left an indelible mark on the country’s sporting legacy, ensuring his name will be remembered for generations to come.

Ananda was renowned for his fearless approach to swimming. He entered every event with unwavering determination, never shying away from a challenge. His fighting spirit in the pool went beyond what most could imagine, inspiring not only his teammates but also his competitors. Ananda’s courage and relentless pursuit of excellence made him a standout athlete, admired across the swimming community.

I consider myself fortunate to have known this giant of swimming personally. Over the years, I had the privilege of competing against him on several occasions. Each race revealed a new facet of his talent and tenacity, and every encounter deepened my

respect for his capabilities and his character. Facing Ananda in the pool was always an extraordinary experience; one that pushed me to perform at my very best.

Ananda’s legacy truly places him among the greats of Sri Lankan sport. Undoubtedly, he can be regarded as Sri Lanka’s own Michael Phelps, given his prowess in the pool and the extraordinary achievements he amassed during his swimming career. His success has set a standard for future generations of swimmers in the country, becoming a benchmark for what can be accomplished with passion and dedication.

Goodbye, my friend. It was my pleasure and privilege to have known you.