# Dambulla Sixers

Dambulla Sixers, previously known as Dambulla Aura, Dambulla Giants, Dambulla Viking, and Dambulla Thunders are a franchise Twenty20 cricket team based in Dambulla, Sri Lanka, that competes in the Lanka Premier League (LPL).
In June 2021, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) terminated the franchise ahead of the 2021 Lanka Premier League, due to financial issues. In September 2021, the team changed their name to Dambulla Giants after changing owners. Then, prior to the 2022 season, Aura Lanka brought the franchise and changed its name to Dambulla Aura.

## Seasons

| Year | League standing | Final standing |
| 2020 | 2nd out of 5 | Semi-finalists |
| 2021 | 4th out of 5 | Playoffs |
| 2022 | 5th out of 5 | Group stage |
| 2023 | 1st out of 5 | Runners up |
| 2024 | 5th out of 5 | Group stage |

### 2024 season

In 2024, the team was purchased by Imperial Sports Group, who renamed it Dambulla Thunders. Tamim Rahman, a co-owner of Dambulla Thunders, a British national of Bangladeshi origin, was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport a day after the 2024 LPL player auction. The special investigating unit for preventing sports-related offences of the Ministry of Sports made the arrest. Following the arrest, LPL terminated its contract with Dambulla Thunders with immediate effect. Innovative Production Group (IPG), the organisers of LPL announced, the fifth edition of the league will continue as planned despite the events related to Dambulla Thunders. IPG further stated that the Dambulla franchise will participate in the league under new ownership. Incidentally, Viranjith Thambugala, chairman of Aura Lanka, the previous owner of Dambulla franchise, was arrested by Sri Lanka Police over allegations of financial fraud on the same day.

## Current squad

* Sources: ESPNcricinfo, ThePapare.com, Newswire.com
* Players with international caps are listed in bold.
| No. | Name | Nationality | Date of birth | Batting style | Bowling style | Year signed | Salary (US$) | Notes |
| Batters |||||||||
| 80 | Mark Chapman | New Zealand | (1994-06-27) 27 June 1994 (age 30) | Left handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| | Nuwanidu Fernando | Sri Lanka | (1999-10-13) 13 October 1999 (age 25) | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 34,000 | |
| 17 | Reeza Hendricks | South Africa | (1989-08-14) 14 August 1989 (age 35) | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| 77 | Towhid Hridoy | Bangladesh | (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 24) | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| 18 | Ibrahim Zadran | Afghanistan | (2001-12-12) 12 December 2001 (age 23) | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| Wicket-keepers |||||||||
| 55 | Kusal Janith Perera | Sri Lanka | (1990-08-17) 17 August 1990 (age 34) | Left handed | — | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| | Ranesh Silva | Sri Lanka | (2002-01-24) 24 January 2002 (age 23) | Right handed | — | 2024 | 5,000 | |
| | Lahiru Udara | Sri Lanka | (1993-11-27) 27 November 1993 (age 31) | Right handed | — | 2024 | 14,000 | |
| All-rounders |||||||||
| 4 | Akila Dananjaya | Sri Lanka | (1993-10-04) 4 October 1993 (age 31) | Left handed | Right-arm off break, Right-arm leg break | 2024 | 20,000 | |
| | Sonal Dinusha | Sri Lanka | (2000-12-04) 4 December 2000 (age 24) | Left handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | 6,000 | |
| 70 | Danushka Gunathilaka | Sri Lanka | (1991-03-17) 17 March 1991 (age 34) | Left handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | 22,000 | |
| 34 | Dushan Hemantha | Sri Lanka | (1994-05-24) 24 May 1994 (age 30) | Right handed | Right-arm leg break | 2023 | Retained | |
| | Sachitha Jayathilake | Sri Lanka | (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 (age 28) | Right handed | Right-arm leg break | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| | Lahiru Madushanka | Sri Lanka | (1992-09-12) 12 September 1992 (age 32) | Right handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | 20,000 | |
| 7 | Mohammad Nabi | Afghanistan | (1985-01-01) 1 January 1985 (age 40) | Right handed | Right-arm off break | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas; Captain |
| | Nimesh Vimukthi | Sri Lanka | (1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 27) | Left handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| | Chamindu Wickramasinghe | Sri Lanka | (2002-09-06) 6 September 2002 (age 22) | Left handed | Right-arm medium | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| Spin bowlers |||||||||
| 92 | Praveen Jayawickrama | Sri Lanka | (1998-09-30) 30 September 1998 (age 26) | Right handed | Slow left-arm orthodox | 2023 | Retained | |
| Pace bowlers |||||||||
| 98 | Dilshan Madushanka | Sri Lanka | (2000-09-18) 18 September 2000 (age 24) | Right handed | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| | Asanka Manoj | Sri Lanka | (1997-03-23) 23 March 1997 (age 27) | Right handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | Direct signing | |
| 63 | Nuwan Pradeep | Sri Lanka | (1986-10-19) 19 October 1986 (age 38) | Right handed | Right-arm fast-medium | 2024 | 36,000 | |
| 90 | Mustafizur Rahman | Bangladesh | (1995-09-06) 6 September 1995 (age 29) | Left handed | Left-arm fast-medium | 2024 | Direct signing | Overseas |
| 53 | Nuwan Thushara | Sri Lanka | (1994-08-06) 6 August 1994 (age 30) | Right handed | Right-arm medium-fast | 2024 | Direct signing | |

## Administration and support staff

| Position | Name |
| Head Coach | Rangana Herath |
| Mentor | Roshan Mahanama |
| Bowling Coach | Chamila Gamage |
| Fielding Coach | Ruwin Peiris |
| Batting Coach | Thilina Kandamby |

## Captains

| No. | Player | From | To | Mat | Won | Lost | Tied | NR | Win% |
| 1 | Dasun Shanaka | 2020 | 2022 | 24 | 9 | 13 | 0 | 2 | 37.50 |
| 2 | Niroshan Dickwella | 2021 | 2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| 3 | Sikandar Raza | 2022 | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 4 | Kusal Mendis | 2023 | 2023 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 68.75 |
| 5 | Dhananjaya de Silva | 2023 | 2023 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| 6 | Mohammad Nabi | 2024 | present | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 37.50 |
As of 16 July 2024

## Statistics
### Most runs

    As of 19 August 2023
| Runs | Player | Seasons |
| 544 | Dasun Shanaka | 2020–2022 |
| 421 | Niroshan Dickwella | 2020–2021 |
| 301 | Phil Salt | 2021 |
| 239 | Avishka Fernando | 2023 |
| 227 | Angelo Perera | 2020 |
* Source: ESPNcricinfo

### Highest individual score

    As of 8 July 2024
| Runs | Player | Opposition | Venue | Date |
| 102* | Kusal Perera | Jaffna Kings | Pallekele | 3 July 2024 |
| 91* | Mark Chapman | Kandy Falcons | Pallekele | 1 July 2024 |
| 87 | Kusal Mendis | Colombo Strikers | Pallekele | 5 August 2023 |
| 80 | Shevon Daniel | Galle Gladiators | Colombo | 17 December 2022 |
| 80 | Reeza Hendricks | Jaffna Kings | Dambulla | 6 July 2024 |
| 80 | Kusal Perera | Colombo Strikers | Dambulla | 7 July 2024 |
* Source: ESPNcricinfo

### Most wickets

    As of 19 August 2023
| Wickets | Player | Seasons |
| 15 | Imran Tahir | 2021 |
| 13 | Ramesh Mendis | 2020–2022 |
| 12 | Noor Ahmad | 2022–2023 |
| 10 | Dhananjaya de Silva | 2023 |
| 10 | Nuwan Pradeep | 2021 |
* Source: ESPNcricinfo

## Kit manufacturers and sponsors

| Year | Shirt sponsor (front) | Shirt sponsor (back) | Chest branding |
| 2020 | Planet Hollywood | | Life Bottled Water |
| 2021 | Hamro | Hamro | |
| 2022 | Tiger Exchange News | Tiger Exchange News | Aura Lanka |
| 2023 | Babu88 Sports | Kheloyar | Aura Airlines Sri Lanka |
| 2024 | Mostplay.news | Sequoia Consultants | Harriet |