Shashini Gimhani

Shashini Gimhani player profile

Shashini Gimhani is a ambidextrous wristspinner, who became the youngest Sri Lankan to play a women's T20I - at 15 years, 144 days. She first played for Sri Lanka Under-19 in the tri-series featuring Australia Under-19 and England Under-19 in Galle and Hambantota. During the series that had T20s as well as 50-over games, Gimhani's bowling action drew attention for being slightly similar to that of former South Africa wristspinner Paul Adams.

That she had a bit of mystery in her bowling and the ability to flummox the batters, too, led the selectors to fast-track her. Gimhani impressed Chamari Athapaththu in the nets, which led to her being called-up for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers in May 2024. "She is really gifted, she can bowl with right or left hands and also throw with both hands," Athapaththu said after her selection. "She is a rare breed. Her bowling action is God given," Hemantha Devapriya, the chair of Sri Lanka Women selectors, was quoted as saying by DailyFT.lk. "It's a natural action not from the book, so it's very difficult to read her. She is some sort of a mystery bowler."

Gimhani returned two wickets on T20I debut against Uganda and showed her wares by returning 3 for 9 against Malaysia in the Women's Asia Cup 2024.