Upul Tharanga announced his retirement from international cricket after a near 15-year career at the highest level saying he had no regrets for moving out.
“I believe it is time for me to bid farewell to my international career after over 15 years of giving the game my all,’ the 36 year old left hander said in a statement on Twitter.
He further stated: “I leave behind a road travelled with fond memories and great friendships. I am thankful to Sri Lanka Cricket for always having faith and the trust vested in me. I am grateful to the many cricket loving fans, friends and my family for standing by me during my highest of highs and even at my lowest points in my career.”
A product of Dharmasoka College Ambalangoda, Tharanga showed his abilities from a young age and played in the Premier league for Singha SC at the age of 15.
He however signalled his arrival during the Under 19 world Cup in 2004 when he cracked 117 against South Africa and then 61 in 42 balls against India.
He played for NCC and captained the side while his big break came in 2005 when he was selected to the Sri Lanka ODI squad, a year after the Asian tsunami took a heavy toll on his family home in Ambalangoda.
He made a superb hundred against England at Lord’s on a tour in 2006 as Sri Lanka won the ODI series 5-0.
In that same series he put on a record opening stand of 286 in 32 overs with Sanath Jayasuriya.
Some of Tharanga’s other feats were 133 against Zimbabwe and 102 against England in the quarter finals of the 2011 World Cup.
Tharanga also played 31 Tests scoring 1754 runs but his best performances were in ODIs as he aggregated 6951 runs from 235 matches with 15 centuries and a career-best 174 against India.