A slight man but nevertheless powerful batsman who has a sound technique, Indika de Saram broke into the national side in the 1999-2000 tour of Zimbabwe. However, he languished at number six or seven in the order and was never really given an opportunity to express his full potential. He was educated at St Thomas' College in Matara, with whom he also kept wicket and became one of the most consistent scorers in the country. The highlight of his schools career was when he scored 304 runs in just 149 balls, including 25 sixes and 19 fours at the Uyanwatte Stadium against Sri Devanand College, Ambalangoda. He was a regular in the A team before breaking into the national team. He was dropped from the side in 2001 and eight years later, made a comeback when he was included in the Twenty20 squad against the touring Indians and later for the ICC World Twenty20 in England.