Dhananjaya Lakshan is a Sri Lankan all-rounder who will represent Pokhara Avengers in NPL Season 3, returning as one of two overseas players alongside Shakib Al Hasan. His international record is brief: three ODIs for Sri Lanka, debuting against India in July 2021. The domestic T20 numbers are stronger: 68 matches, 738 runs at 122.38 and 48 wickets at 22.06. Born on October 5, 1998, he is 27 during the 2026 season.
In the Nepal Premier League 2026, he completes a dual overseas all-round core that lets captain Kushal Bhurtel build the rest of the XI around specialists. His reliability through the middle overs is exactly the quiet balance a playoff-chasing side needs.
About Dhananjaya Lakshan
Dhananjaya Lakshan is the re-signing that says Pokhara Avengers liked what they saw. Brought back as one of two overseas players for NPL Season 3 alongside Shakib Al Hasan, the Sri Lankan all-rounder returns after a solid Season 2 — the rare overseas pick a franchise chooses twice. His international record is brief but real: three ODIs for Sri Lanka, with a debut against India in July 2021.
The domestic T20 numbers explain the faith: 68 matches, 738 runs at a strike rate of 122.38, and 48 wickets at an average of 22.06 — a genuine two-way record, with the bowling average the standout line. Born in Galle on October 5, 1998, the left-hand batter is 27 during the 2026 season: experienced enough to be reliable, young enough to still be improving.
Player details
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Dhananjaya Lakshan |
| Birthplace | Galle, Sri Lanka |
| Country | Sri Lanka |
| Playing role | All-rounder |
| Batting style | Left-hand bat |
| Bowling style | Not specified in verified reports |
Playing style and strengths
Lakshan's game is defined by the balance of his record. A strike rate of 122.38 is workmanlike rather than explosive, but 48 wickets at 22.06 is genuinely impressive — it says his bowling takes wickets rather than just filling overs, whatever its style (not specified in verified reports). That profile marks him as the classical T20 all-rounder: not the star of either discipline, but the player whose four overs and twenty-odd runs change the shape of a side. The left-hand batting adds a further dimension, giving Bhurtel a left-right combination option through the middle overs.
His strength is completeness across a tournament. Sixty-eight domestic T20 matches is a serious bank of experience — he has batted in collapses and chases, bowled in every phase, and knows which of his skills the situation needs. Re-signed after a solid Season 2, he also brings Kirtipur familiarity that Shakib, for all his greatness, does not yet have. Lakshan's game is about making the XI better without needing the spotlight.
Dhananjaya Lakshan's role at Pokhara Avengers in Season 3
Dhananjaya Lakshan's role at Pokhara Avengers in Season 3 is the second overseas all-round pillar — and arguably the more tactically flexible one. Where Shakib Al Hasan is the marquee name opponents plan for, Lakshan is the re-signed known quantity: a left-hand batter for the middle order and a wicket-taking bowling option whose 48 wickets at 22.06 say he can be trusted with a full quota. Together they give Bhurtel and Mendis something rare in franchise cricket: two overseas slots spent on two-way cricketers, leaving the rest of the XI free for specialists.
His specific value is adaptability. If Kirtipur grips, his overs become gold; if the top order fires, he is the left-handed accelerator who walks in to exploit it; if the innings stutters, his 68 matches of domestic T20 experience make him the calm head. Season 2 proved he fits this franchise; Season 3 asks him to prove the fit was not a one-off — and to help drag Pokhara into the playoffs for the first time.
Dhananjaya Lakshan at NPL 2026
Season-by-season Nepal Premier League figures for Dhananjaya Lakshan.
| Season | Team | Matches | Runs | HS | Avg | Wkts | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NPL 2024 (Season 1) | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2025 (Season 2) | Pokhara Avengers | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available | Not publicly available |
| NPL 2026 (Season 3) | Pokhara Avengers | Season not yet played | — | — | — | — | — |
Dhananjaya Lakshan career records
Available senior career figures for Dhananjaya Lakshan as stated in verified reports.
| Format | Matches | Runs | Wickets | Best bowling | 100s / 50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODI | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | 0/0 |
| FC | 20 | 914 | 22 | 3/24 | 2/3 |
| LA | 37 | 1,028 | 26 | 3/37 | 1/8 |
| T20 | 47 | 526 | 32 | 3/17 | 0/2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Which NPL team does Dhananjaya Lakshan play for?
Pokhara Avengers — re-signed as one of two overseas players.
What is Dhananjaya Lakshan's role?
All-rounder: left-hand batter, full bowling quota.
What are Dhananjaya Lakshan's domestic T20 numbers?
68 matches, 738 runs (SR 122.38); 48 wickets at 22.06, best 4/30.
Follow Pokhara Avengers
Pokhara Avengers squad lists each player's recruitment status separately. Auction prices apply only to the listed auction transaction; they are not a career salary or a retained-player fee.
Sources
Recruitment details below are drawn from the dated reports linked here; a signing does not guarantee selection or availability for every match.
- Pokhara Avengers Re-sign Sri Lankan All-Rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan for NPL Season 3 (nepalreadout.com)
- NPL Season 3 Overseas Players 2026: Complete Team-Wise List (nepinsights.com)
- Dhananjaya Lakshan player profile (sportscafe.in)
- Dhananjaya Lakshan: A Cricket Biography (cricketnmore.com)
- Dhananjaya Lakshan stats and career info (crictracker.com)