Fifth year player, right hand bat,left arm orthodox bowler, coloursman and Vice Captain of the team for the year 2020/21 Upendra Warnakulasuriya has brought honour and glory to his Alma Mater, Dharmaraja College, Kandy.
He commenced his schooling from Dharmaraja College, Kandy from grade one. His parents Madava Warnakulasuriya and Lakshmi de Silva noticing his keenness and talent in cricket admitted their son to Future Stars Cricket Academy under former Rajan Senaka Disanayake. To improve his son’s skills they sent him for individual training to Priyantha Weragoda another Rajan. Then Upendra joined the school Cricket Academy under Ananda Wijerathne, Harold Ransinghe and Mr. Wasala and from their he was selected to the under 13 division two team and in his first year itself he claimed 32 scalps with 3 five wicket hauls and his best being against Trinity College with five for two runs. In his second year he captured 35 wickets with three five wicket hauls.
In the following year in the under 15 division one, he bagged 28 wickets with two five wicket hauls and in the next year he took 36 wickets with four five wicket hauls and with these performances under his belt he was selected to the Kandy District team in the Prima Cup tourney and claimed 5 for runs against Kegalle District. But unfortunately he was not considered for the Provincial team. In the mean time he toured Malaysia with an under 15 team from Future Stars Academy under Senaka Disanayake to Dr. Vaidiyarathnam Challenge Trophy Tournament where 12 teams vied for honours. Upendra bagged 14 wickets with one five wicket haul and they clinched the championship and it was a fine exposure for Upendra.
Plying in the under 15 team in his first year he bagged 32 wickets with four five-wicket hauls and the best being five for two runs against Rahula College, Kanday and they reached up tp Pre-Quarters and lost to St. Sebastian’s, Moratuwa. In the following year he took 28 wickets with three five wicket hauls.
His first year in the first eleven was in 2016/17 and as the “Baby of the Team” he played in seven matches and took 22 wickets and played for the One Day match versus their arch rivals Kingswood College. In his next year he played in 15 matches and captured 54 wickets with two ten wicket hauls with the best being match bag of 12 for 82. He claimed three five wicket hauls and played for the Big Match and the Limited Over Match in 2018/19 he claimed 56 wickets with four five wicket hauls. Last season he bagged 62 wickets with six five wicket hauls and the best being a match bag of 9 for 62 against D. S. Senanayake Vidyalaya. With these performances he was selected to the Kandy District and Central Province teams. Last year due to Corona Rajans –Kingswoodians Big Match and the One Dayer were. So far Upendra has represented his Alma Mater in the under 13, 15, 17 and 19 teams. He has captured 353 wickets and perhaps it may be a record for Sri Lanka Schools Cricket and for his Alma Mater in general and he has another year to play for his school. His present coach U. S. E. Perera and his present Principal Dampriya Weerasinghe, Prefect of Games - Saliya Alexander, MIC - Manjula Udagedara and all the coaches were supportive to him at all times. In the mean time he played for the Sara Trophy Tournament Old Zahirians Cricket Club, Gampola and for the under 23 team of Rajarata Cricket Club.
