Mathurage Don Kusal Janith Perera, popularly known as Kusal Perera, is a talented left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper from Sri Lanka. He was born on August 17, 1990, in Kalutara, Sri Lanka. Perera possesses a short backlift, powerful forearms, and relentless determination, which are reminiscent of his cricketing idol, Sanath Jayasuriya.
Like Jayasuriya, Perera also has a second skill, which is wicketkeeping. He showcased his abilities as a batsman and wicketkeeper while representing Sri Lanka’s Under-19 teams before joining Colts Cricket Club as a senior player. At Colts, Perera quickly established himself as an aggressive and reliable cricketer, combining aggressiveness with consistency. His performances caught the attention of national selectors, and after two successful seasons, he earned a call-up to the Sri Lankan national team.
Perera’s international debut came in January 2012 during Sri Lanka’s limited-overs tour to Australia. He made an immediate impact with his aggressive batting style, particularly in a low-scoring ODI at the Gabba, where his unbeaten knock of 22 runs guided Sri Lanka to victory. Although primarily considered a middle-order batsman, Perera was promoted to open the innings in the subsequent Twenty20 matches, where he continued to make a significant contribution.
His impressive performance at the international level led to opportunities in first-class cricket. In one such instance, Perera recorded a double century followed by a massive innings of 336 runs in 275 balls, further solidifying his credentials as a top-class batsman. As a result, he was awarded a central contract by the Sri Lankan cricket board and enjoyed an extended run in the limited-overs formats.
In 2014, Perera notched his maiden ODI century against Bangladesh in Mirpur, which helped Sri Lanka secure a whitewash series victory. He then etched his name in Sri Lankan cricket history by equalling Jayasuriya’s record for the joint-fastest half-century in ODI cricket, achieved in just 17 balls, against Pakistan in Pallekele in July 2015.
Having proven himself in the shorter formats, Perera made his Test debut against India in Colombo in August 2015. He made an impressive start to his Test career, becoming only the second Sri Lankan batsman to score two half-centuries on debut.
However, Perera’s flourishing career suffered a setback in December 2015 when he was provisionally suspended by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing a dope test. He was withdrawn from Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand and subsequently missed several important tournaments, including a bilateral T20 series in India, the Asia Cup, and the World T20.
Perera faced an uphill battle to clear his name, investing a significant amount of his own money and enlisting the support of Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) to challenge the laboratory findings of the ICC. After undergoing multiple tests, including a polygraph test, hair analysis, and a separate urine test, his suspension was ultimately lifted in May 2016. The findings of the Qatar-based lab were deemed unreliable for scientific and technical reasons by an independent expert appointed by the ICC.
Kusal Perera’s rollercoaster journey is a testament to his strength of character, determination, and unwavering support from SLC and his legal team. He has since made a successful comeback to international cricket and continues to be a vital cog in the Sri Lankan cricket team’s batting lineup. With his explosive batting and dependable glovework, Perera remains a key asset for Sri Lanka in all three formats of the game.
