Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Role: Batter
DOB: 24 October 1991
IPL Team (2026): Unsold/Retired from IPL Consideration
Base Price: ₹50 Lakhs (last auction, 2022)
IPL CAREER STATISTICS (Updated April 2026)
Batting & Fielding
| Year | Mat | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100 | 50 | 4s | 6s | CT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 9 | 9 | 0 | 206 | 43 | 22.89 | 148 | 139.19 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 2 |
| 2022 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 206 | 43 | 22.89 | 148 | 139.19 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 12 | 2 |
Bowling
| Year | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Avg | Econ | SR | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The Story of Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan southpaw, is a name synonymous with aggressive, no-holds-barred batting. Born in Colombo, Rajapaksa’s cricketing journey was marked by early promise and a reputation for audacious strokeplay. He was a standout performer in age-group cricket, captaining Sri Lanka at the U19 World Cup, showcasing leadership alongside his explosive talent. However, his transition to the senior international stage and the IPL was a patient wait, often hampered by fitness concerns and a fiercely competitive Sri Lankan batting lineup.
Known affectionately as “The Rocket” for his ability to launch sixes with effortless power, Rajapaksa’s playing style is tailor-made for T20 cricket. He’s a top-order aggressor who loves to take on the bowlers from ball one, often employing a high backlift and a powerful swing of the bat. His game thrives on pace, dispatching fast bowlers with disdain over mid-wicket and through the covers. While he can be susceptible to quality spin early in his innings, once set, he’s a nightmare for any bowling attack, capable of single-handedly changing the momentum of a match.
His IPL breakthrough finally arrived in 2022 when the Punjab Kings snapped him up. It was a moment many fans of T20 cricket had been waiting for, eager to see his destructive potential unleashed on the biggest franchise stage. Rajapaksa didn’t disappoint, making an immediate impact with a series of quickfire cameos that injected much-needed impetus into the PBKS batting lineup. His fearless approach, even against established international bowlers, quickly endeared him to the IPL faithful, proving that his reputation as a T20 specialist was well-earned.
Despite a relatively short IPL career, Rajapaksa left an indelible mark with his aggressive intent and boundary-hitting prowess. He represents the modern T20 batter – unafraid, uninhibited, and always looking to dominate. While his IPL journey might have been brief, his performances were a testament to his unique skill set and his ability to entertain, leaving fans wondering what more he could have achieved with a longer run.
IPL Journey: Team by Team
Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s IPL journey, though brief, was entirely with one franchise: the Punjab Kings (PBKS). He was acquired by PBKS at the IPL 2022 mega-auction for his base price of ₹50 Lakhs. This was his first and only stint in the Indian Premier League.
For PBKS in 2022, Rajapaksa was primarily used as a middle-order batter, often coming in at number 3 or 4 to provide quick runs and maintain the scoring rate. He played 9 matches, scoring 206 runs at a strike rate of 139.19. His role was clear: to attack from the outset and provide impetus, particularly in the powerplay or immediately after. While he didn’t register a fifty, his consistent cameos, often in the 20s and 30s, were vital in setting up or chasing totals. His highest score of 43 came against Royal Challengers Bangalore, a knock that showcased his ability to take on a strong bowling attack. After the 2022 season, he was not retained by PBKS and went unsold in subsequent auctions, effectively bringing his IPL career to a close.
What Makes Them Special: Betting Perspective
From a betting perspective, Bhanuka Rajapaksa was a high-risk, high-reward player. His primary strength lies in his aggressive intent and ability to hit boundaries, especially sixes. He thrives on pace and will often target fast bowlers, making him a strong candidate for “Most Sixes” or “Player to hit a Six” prop bets, particularly on flat pitches and smaller grounds.
His weakness, however, was inconsistency and a tendency to get out trying to accelerate. He often struggled to convert his quick starts into substantial scores, which made him a less reliable pick for “Top Batter” markets. Bettors should have looked for specific matchups: if he was facing a bowling attack heavy on pace and light on quality spin, his chances of a quick impactful innings increased. Conversely, against teams with strong spin options who could exploit his early-innings vulnerability, betting against him for individual runs might have been a shrewd move.
His strike rate of 139.19 in his IPL career highlights his attacking approach, making “Over/Under” total runs bets interesting. If he got through the first few balls, he was likely to score quickly. However, his average of 22.89 suggests he wasn’t a consistent accumulator. He was a player to bet on for explosive cameos rather than anchor innings. In live betting, if he survived the initial spin challenge, his odds for hitting boundaries would have been attractive.
Key Records & Milestones
- Scored 206 runs in his debut IPL season (2022) for Punjab Kings.
- Maintained an impressive strike rate of 139.19 across his IPL career.
- His highest IPL score was 43, achieved against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2022.
- Hit 12 sixes in his 9-match IPL career, averaging over one six per innings.
IPL Season Highlights
Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s sole IPL season in 2022 for the Punjab Kings was a whirlwind of aggressive cameos and boundary-hitting. He made an immediate impact in his debut match against Royal Challengers Bangalore, smashing a quickfire 43 off just 22 balls, including 2 fours and 4 sixes, helping PBKS chase down a formidable 205-run target with an over to spare. This innings perfectly encapsulated his fearless approach.
He followed this up with another vital contribution against Kolkata Knight Riders, scoring 31 off 9 balls at an astonishing strike rate of 344.44, featuring 3 fours and 3 sixes. Although PBKS lost that match, Rajapaksa’s innings was a highlight for its sheer audacity. Throughout the season, he continued to provide crucial impetus in the middle order, with scores like 27 off 21 balls against Chennai Super Kings and 25 off 17 balls against Gujarat Titans. While he didn’t manage to convert these starts into big scores, his ability to score at a rapid pace and put pressure on the opposition bowlers was a consistent feature of his IPL 2022 campaign.