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Danushka Gunathilaka Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth17 March 1991

Age31 Years

BirthplacePanadura, Sri Lanka

ProfessionProfessional Cricketer

NationalitySri Lankan

Marital statusUnmarried

Danushka Gunathilaka Biography

Left-handed opening batter Danushka Gunathilaka is a Sri Lankan international cricketer from Panadura. He has represented Sri Lanka across formats since 1

Early life and background

Mashtayage Danushka Gunathilaka was born on 17 March 1991 in Panadura, Sri Lanka. Raised in a family where his father was an enthusiastic cricket supporter, Gunathilaka developed an early interest in the sport. He attended Mahanama College in Colombo and grew up practicing the skills that would take him into professional cricket. He follows Buddhism and is a non-vegetarian.

Physical profile

Gunathilaka stands about 1.85 meters (6 feet 1 inch) tall and is listed around 70 kilograms (155 pounds). His physical measurements in available profiles note a 41-inch chest, a 32-inch waist and 13-inch biceps. He has black hair and black eyes.

Career

Gunathilaka progressed through domestic ranks before making his international debut for Sri Lanka. He made his One Day International debut on 1 November 2015 against the West Indies and played his first Twenty20 International on 7 January 2016 versus New Zealand, where he produced a notable 29-ball 46. His Test debut came later, on 26 July 2017 against India.

A left-handed batter who can bowl right-arm off-break, Gunathilaka has been used primarily as a top-order hitter. In July 2017 he registered his maiden international century in a match against Zimbabwe at the MRIC Stadium. He was initially omitted from Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy but was later added after an injury to a teammate; in that tournament he made a significant contribution by scoring 77 in a successful chase against India.

At domestic level, Gunathilaka made his List A debut for Colombo Cricket Club in the 2009–10 season. His performances in domestic cricket and the international stage led to a national contract from Sri Lanka Cricket in May 2018, when he was named among 33 centrally contracted players.

Public profile

Gunathilaka has been a recognizable figure in Sri Lankan cricket since his international debut. He is commonly known by the nickname Danu. His style as a power-hitting left-hander and occasional off-spin has drawn comparisons to players he admires; he has listed Mahela Jayawardene, Brett Lee and AB de Villiers among his favorite cricketers.

Controversies and disciplinary matters

Across his career, Gunathilaka has faced disciplinary actions and legal issues that affected his availability for selection. In 2017 he received a suspension and a ban of several limited-overs matches related to misconduct and a poor attitude in training. In 2018 he was suspended from international duty after an incident that led to allegations connected to an event involving teammates and hotel guests; this resulted in temporary removal from national selection.

In November 2022, Gunathilaka was charged in relation to an alleged sexual assault in Sydney. Following the police action, Sri Lanka Cricket suspended him from all forms of cricket; authorities apprehended him from the team hotel in Sydney at that time. These incidents have been part of his public record and have influenced his cricketing circumstances.

Personal life

Gunathilaka remains unmarried. He has stated preferences and habits noted in public profiles, including alcohol consumption. Details about his parents' names have not been publicly recorded in available profiles.

Latest updates

After being awarded a central contract in May 2018, Gunathilaka’s international career encountered interruptions because of disciplinary and legal issues that resulted in suspensions from Sri Lanka Cricket. As of the information available through 2022, those matters were ongoing in the public domain and had directly affected his status with the national team.
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Recent Work

International appearances (ODI, T20I, Test)

ODI debut on 1 November 2015 vs West Indies; T20I debut on 7 January 2016 vs New Zealand (scored 29-ball 46); Test debut on 26 July 2017 vs India.

2015-2017
Century vs Zimbabwe

Scored his first international century against Zimbabwe at MRIC Stadium on 6 July 2017.

2017
Named to Sri Lanka central contract list

Included among 33 players offered national contracts by Sri Lanka Cricket.

2018
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Career Highlights

  1. ODI debut for Sri Lanka on 1 November 2015
  2. T20I debut on 7 January 2016, scored 46 off 29 balls
  3. Test debut on 26 July 2017
  4. First international century on 6 July 2017 against Zimbabwe
  5. Included in Sri Lanka’s national contract list in May 2018
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Danushka Gunathilaka born?

17 March 1991

What is Danushka Gunathilaka known for?

Professional Cricketer

What is Danushka Gunathilaka’s marital status?

Unmarried