New Delhi: Italian leg spinner Crishan Kalugamage had dreamt of just playing in an International Cricket Council T20 World Cup. Never thought he’d etch his name into history, playing a key role in Italy’s first-ever T20 World Cup victory.
The Italian squad, which made its T20 World Cup debut this year, defeated Nepal at the Wankhede Stadium by 10 wickets Thursday.
After bowling Nepal out for 123 in 19.3 overs, Italy’s openers Anthony Mosca (62*) and Justin Mosca (60*) made light work of the chase, reaching the target in just 12.4 overs. Kalugamage returned figures of 3/18 in four overs, which earned him the Player of the Match award.
“I am speechless. Becoming man of the match in our country’s first T20 World Cup win is an amazing feeling. I never even dreamed that stars will align this way. Firsts are very special,” Kalugamage told ThePrint over phone Friday.
The victory carried extra significance for him as it came at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. Kalugamage revealed that he has watched countless Wankhede matches, including Indian Premier League games, on television, and described the experience of playing there as surreal.
The spinner admitted that initially he could feel the pressure as they were competing before a packed crowd for the first time. But their nerves calmed down once the game got under way. He termed the feeling of playing and winning Italy’s maiden World Cup match at Wankhede “fascinating and amazing”.
Kalugamage also shared that the team was emotional after the result. Following their opening loss to Scotland, skipper Wayne Madsen had some encouraging words for the team.
“He said ‘we’ll have to believe in ourselves’. And, after winning the match against Nepal, the first words he told the team were: ‘we aren’t just lucky, we have talented players. We have won this’,” recalled Kalugamage.
‘Virat Kohli inspires me’
Kalugamage moved to Italy from Sri Lanka in 2007, his family settling in the small town of Lucca. His father found work in a paint factory and his mother was a homemaker.
Kalugamage himself found work at a pizza shop and, for a while, it felt as though his cricketing dreams had quietly slipped away. But he refused to let them die. Every weekend, he would travel to Rome to play club cricket, holding on to the hope that one day, things would change.
After Italy’s historic win and his Player of the Match performance, that patience seems to have paid off. His phone hasn’t stopped buzzing since. Messages and calls have poured in on WhatsApp and Instagram from relatives far and wide.
“My mother called saying that she is very proud of me. And she was constantly crying. In fact, everyone from my family has been calling and wishing me. I have never received this kind of outpouring of love. So, it’s new for me as well,” the 34-year-old said.
In preparation for the World Cup, Kalugamage made a bold decision, he left his job at the pizza shop four to five months before the tournament to focus fully on cricket. A month ago, he and his Italian teammates travelled to Sri Lanka for training, as Italy primarily has AstroTurf pitches, which play very differently from natural pitches.
The exposure proved invaluable. He noted that Sri Lanka and their bowling coach Anusha Samaranayake helped the Italian side feel welcome and sharpen their skills in conditions closer to international standards.
“In Italy, we just need one proper pitch. We are not asking for more. The players are so hard working, one proper pitch can bring a huge difference in our performance,” he said.
Returning to Sri Lanka for training stirred deep nostalgia. As he landed, childhood memories resurfaced. He recalled watching cricket matches and even listening to radio commentary when television wasn’t available with his grandfather, who is no longer alive to see him live the dream.
“I started with playing cricket in the villages here (in Sri Lanka). When we didn’t have TV, my grandfather and I would sit with the radio and listen to the commentary,” Kalugamage said.
He grew up idolising bowlers like Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Australia’s Shane Warne, and more recently, Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, and spent hours studying their bowling videos. Above all, though, Indian batsman Virat Kohli remains his biggest inspiration.
“His (Kohli’s) attitude, hard work and discipline is something I want to adapt to. He is an inspiration,” the cricketer said.
From the current tournament, Kalugamage says India’s Hardik Pandya stands out, a player who, in his view, carries the same intensity and drive that he admires in Kohli.
Looking ahead, he hopes Italy will one day play a bilateral series against India and perhaps even see Italian players feature in the Indian Premier League. “Both the avenues can change the face of Italian cricket,” he said.
The T20 marks Kalugamage’s second trip to India. His first visit was when he was in Class 8, when he travelled to Chennai for a school-level cricket tournament. And if there’s one thing he loves about India beyond cricket, it’s the desserts.
“I don’t remember the names of the desserts but ever since I have landed, I have been eating the local Indian desserts,” he said, laughing.
‘Pressure is on England’
Kalugamage began representing the Italian A team in 2016 as a fast bowler. However, a series of injuries stalled his progress. Refusing to give up, he reinvented himself and returned to the side in 2021-22, this time as a leg spinner, a move that has since defined his resurgence.
Balancing work and cricket hasn’t been easy, but his love for the game has kept him going. “I love cricket. When I play it, I am very happy. I feel good. And, that’s where the drive to go over and beyond to keep the dream alive comes from,” he said.
Next up, Italy will lock horns with England Monday at Eden Gardens in Kolkata. But Kalugamage insists the pressure isn’t on his side.
“They are a big team, we have nothing to lose. They are already under pressure,” he said, adding that Italy will step onto the field ready to give their very best.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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