by Rex Clementine

In the glittering City of Dreams, perched elegantly overlooking the Indian Ocean, the rise of Maheesh Theekshana was toasted in grand style on Wednesday. From an unremarkable, chubby medium-pacer with little chance of making it big, he has spun his way to the top of the world rankings in less than five years. Now, he stands as the No.1 bowler in the world, only the fourth Sri Lankan to reach that pinnacle – a feat ever so rare.

Theekshana’s cricketing journey began at Siddhartha Vidyalaya in Sedawatta before a scholarship took him to St. Benedict’s College, Kotahena. However, his school career never quite took off, much like a batter stuck in the nervous nineties. But fortune favours the brave and his decision to enlist in the Sri Lanka Army to pursue cricket changed the trajectory of his career.

Under the watchful eyes of his coach Ajantha Mendis, Theekshana honed his skills, mirroring his mentor’s mystery. Soon, he caught the eye of Thisara Perera, who, along with Dinesh Chandimal, had also joined the Army. When the Lanka Premier League (LPL) draft rolled around, it was Thisara who batted for Theekshana, urging SLC Vice-President Ravin Wickramaratne – a former cricketer himself – to take a chance on him for the Jaffna franchise. Ravin, spotting the bigger picture, gave the green light, and Theekshana hasn’t looked back since.

“This guy was a chubby, round-bellied bowler when I first saw him,” Thisara Perera chuckled, reminiscing about Theekshana’s early days. “I told him straight up – you need to work on your fitness if you want to play professional cricket. What he has achieved is truly remarkable.”

Sri Lanka’s current Head Coach Sanath Jayasuriya has also been left mighty impressed. “Maheesh has gained invaluable experience playing in leagues around the world. When he shares that knowledge in the dressing room, it’s like gold dust,” he said. “We’ve seen him win matches with the ball – don’t be shocked if one day he pulls off a match-winning knock with the bat. He’s been putting in the hard yards. But above all, what sets him apart is his humility – stardom hasn’t changed him one bit.”

It was former Sri Lankan off-spinner Dilruwan Perera who first flagged Theekshana’s talent. “He told me, ‘There’s a kid bowling like Ajantha Mendis,’” recalled Amila Kalugalage, another key figure in his rise. “Then photographer, Sameera Peiris, one of my friends, sent me a video of him in action, and I was hooked. We gave him a break, and he grabbed it with both hands.”

Over the last few years, Theekshana has become an indispensable member of Sri Lanka’s white-ball sides. When selectors jot down a playing XI, his name is among the first penned in ink. What makes him such a vital cog in the wheel is his willingness to bowl in the Powerplay – a job many spinners would rather avoid, like fielding at short leg when Aravinda de Silva is on full flow.

In Sri Lankan conditions, where quicks barely get two overs with the new ball before spinners take over, having someone like Theekshana – who thrives under fielding restrictions – is a blessing. His control and guile have made him a unique asset.

Within the span of six months, Sri Lanka have taken down India (ranked No.1) and Australia (ranked No.2) in ODI cricket, with Theekshana playing a pivotal role in those triumphs. He’s the bowler opponents whisper about in team meetings, the one they struggle to decode.

For years, Sri Lanka’s bowling line-up has relied on one or two match-winners to carry the burden. Even in the 1996 World Cup triumph, Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan were the only two world-class operators, while the rest played supporting roles, aided by razor-sharp fielding.

Currently, Sri Lanka boasts not just one, but four genuine wicket-taking threats. Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga form a lethal spin duo, while Matheesha Pathirana provides the firepower with his slinging thunderbolts. If they can get Dilshan Madushanka fit and firing, Sri Lanka’s attack will be as well-rounded as that of India who can be tough to beat when they have Bumrah, Shami, Kuldeep and Jadeja.

This team is shaping up to be a proper handful for any opposition. With a bit of fine-tuning, they won’t just be competing with the best – they’ll be beating them consistently. And at the heart of this resurgence, orchestrating spells of deception and precision, stands Maheesh Theekshana – the chubby pacer turned mystery spinner, now the world’s best bowler.

What a journey. What a story. And, dare we say, the best is yet to come.

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