Milan Rathnayake

Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Milan Priyanath Rathnayake, known better as Milan Rathnayake, is a Sri Lankan cricketer born on August 1, 1996, in the city of Kurunegala, Sri Lanka. He is primarily a bowler who bowls right-arm medium-fast pace and is a left-handed batter. 

Rathnayake’s domestic track record speaks volumes about his wicket-taking ability on the far front. His all-format prowess boasts of the versatility that the speedster shoulders on and will be keen to replicate the same run of form in international cricket for the island nation.

Milan Rathnayake: Along the Years

Milan Rathnayake Records

• Highest individual score at No. 9 on Test debut (72)

• Second-highest individual score at No. 9 for Sri Lanka in Tests (72)

• Third-highest individual score at No. 9 or  lower for Sri Lanka in Tests (72)

Milan Rathnayake Career

Milan Rathnayake has a tremendous domestic record across formats. The 6-feet tall speedster uses his height to full use which enables him to bowl at high release points. Rathnayake represents Galle in the National Super League Limited-Overs Tournament. 

Milan Rathnayake Domestic Career

Milan Rathnayake made his domestic debut for Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club against Sri Lanka Ports Authority Cricket Club (SLPAC) in Welisara on December 2, 2016, in the Premier League Tournament Tier B 2016-17 season. With the bat, he scored 8 runs off 17 balls in the first innings and went wicketless with the ball in the second innings on his first-class (FC) debut. He was dismissed for a solitary run in the second innings as SLPAC won by an innings and 3 runs.  

He made his List-A debut for Tincomalee District against Batticaloa District in Colombo in the Districts One-Day Tournament on March 19, 2017. He took a wicket in the first innings and was unbeaten on 2 runs as Tincomalee District won a thriller by a margin of one wicket. Rathnayake made his T20 debut for Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club against Colts Cricket Club in the SLC Twenty20 Tournament on February 24, 2018, in Panagoda. The pacer was expensive with the ball in his maiden T20 outing and conceded 10 runs per over in his 4-over quota. 

Milan Rathnayake International Career

Milan Rathnayake earned his maiden international call-up to represent Sri Lanka in Tests. However, the speedster made headlines with his comparatively least stronger skillset on the cricket ground, batting. 

Milan Rathnayake Test Career

On August 21, 2024, Milan Rathnayake made his Test debut for Sri Lanka against England in the first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2024 in Manchester. In his very first Test innings, Rathnayake made his bat do the talking under the captaincy of Dhananjaya de Silva. He scored a crucial 72 runs lower down the order with the bat at No.9. In the process, he also etched his name in the history books as he registered the highest individual score at No. 9 on his Test debut. Rathnayake broke a 41-year-old record previously held by India’s Balwinder Sandhu. The 28-year-old also holds the record for the second-highest individual score at No. 9 for Sri Lanka in Tests and the third-highest individual score at No. 9 or lower for Sri Lanka in Tests.

In the second innings, Rathnayake took his maiden international wicket in the form of Gus Atkinson. He was promoted to bat at No.8 in the next innings but faltered to create the first innings magic. He was dismissed by part-timer Joe Root for 10 runs. In the fourth innings, Rathnayake picked up the wicket of opener Dan Lawrence.

In the next Test, Rathnayake scalped a couple of wickets across each innings and scored 43 vital runs batting at No.9. He picked up a three-wicket haul in the final Test and helped Sri Lanka win a consolation victory against the hosts.

In the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024, Rathnayake had to warm the bench in the first Test owing to team combinations for the sub-continental conditions. He was included in the second Test.