Sharujan Shanmuganathan
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 25 April 2006 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | wicket-keeper batsman | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023-present | Nugegoda Sports and Welfare Club | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Cricinfo, 22 March 2025 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Sharujan Shanmuganathan (born 25 April 2006) is a Sri Lankan cricketer.[1] He plays age-group cricket representing Sri Lanka national under-19 cricket team.[2]
He rose to prominence and limelight at an early age due to his stroke-making abilities being compared to those of veteran former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara.[3] It was during a test match that was played between Sri Lanka and Australia in 2011 on Sri Lankan soil that he caught the attention of viewers when his free-flowing, elegant cover drive became a talking point as it was captured by one of the cameramen during the course of the test match.[4] Sharujan was only five-years-old when he received recognition for playing cover drives, and commentator Tony Greig, who was named as one of the commentators for the test match, reportedly spotted him playing at the grass bank of the Singhalese Sports Club Cricket Ground.[5] Tony Greig eventually nicknamed him "Little Sanga" during the air while doing commentary (especially when Australian team was batting with Phillip Hughes alongside Ricky Ponting were at the crease),[6] and Greig later went on to interview the five-year-old Sharujan, which became an instant hit on television.[7][8] Kumar Sangakkara himself praised Sharujan following the immense popularity he gained and he also received praise from former Pakistani fast bowler Waqar Younis.[9]
He began his studies at St Benedict's College where he furthered his ambitions in cricket. His father Nathan Shanmuganathan is a professional photographer. He learnt the basics of cricket techniques from Nelson Mendis.[10]