Legends of Sri Lankan cricket, including Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna Ranatunga, and Muttiah Muralitharan, who were part of the 1996 World Cup-winning side and dominated world cricket in the 1990s, recently got back together for the Tamil Union’s 125th anniversary festivities. All eyes were on Arjuna Ranatunga remarkable metamorphosis, even if the four stalwarts all seemed to be in a good mood.
Compared to his playing days, Arjuna Ranatunga looked thinner and nearly unrecognizable in a red kurta. Despite his stocky size, which never impacted his performance, he gained notoriety during his 18-year international career. He amassed around 12,500 runs in Tests and One-Day Internationals, but he also occasionally caused controversy. One well-known instance was when former Australian captain Ian Healy questioned him about his desire for a runner because of fitness concerns.
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â Sanath Jayasuriya (@Sanath07) November 5, 2025
Arjuna Ranatunga was never the most athletically built batter, along with the famous Inzamam-Ul-Haq of Pakistan, but his recent weight loss has drawn a lot of attention. Astonished by the change, some fans questioned his health, while others made lighthearted requests for artificial intelligence (AI) to verify his identity. He hasn’t revealed the cause of the shift, but it seems to be more of a commitment to fitness than a medical issue.
An examination of the cricket career of Arjuna Ranatunga
With 89 victories in 193 games over 11 years, Ranatunga continues to be Sri Lanka’s most successful ODI skipper. In addition, he led the side in 56 Test matches, 12 of which he won, giving him the nation’s second-most successful Test captain. He made his Test and ODI debuts at the age of 18, but his legacy was primarily defined by his leadership. At the Adelaide Oval, he was renowned for his fervent backing of his players, including leaving the field when umpire Ross Emerson no-balled Muralitharan for “chucking” against Australia.
The presence of Arjuna Ranatunga is still respected today. He will always be regarded as a legendary figure in Sri Lankan cricket because of his incredible metamorphosis and outstanding accomplishments.
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