Nuwan Thushara is one of Sri Lanka’s most exciting fast bowlers right now — known for his Malinga-like slinging action and lethal yorkers at the death.
As of 2026, Nuwan Thushara’s estimated net worth is approximately $2 million (around INR 16 crore), a fortune built through IPL contracts, international match fees, and appearances across leagues on three continents.
In this article, you will get the full picture of his salary, contract history, career earnings, and everything that makes him one of the better-paid Sri Lankan cricketers of his generation.
Nuwan Thushara’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ilandari Dewage Nuwan Thushara |
| Date of Birth | August 6, 1994 |
| Age | 31 Years |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Batting Style | Right-hand Bat |
| Bowling Style | Right-arm Medium-fast |
| Current Teams | Sri Lanka National Team, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (IPL), Gulf Giants (ILT20) |
| Turned Professional | December 26, 2015 (First-class debut) |
| International Debut | February 13, 2022 vs Australia (T20I) |
| Jersey No. | 19 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$2 Million (≈ INR 16 Crore) |
| IPL Contract | INR 1.60 Crore (Royal Challengers Bengaluru) |
| @nuwan.thushara53 | |
| Twitter/X | @NuwanThushara53 |
Early Life & Career
Nuwan Thushara was born on August 6, 1994, in Thalawa, Alpitiya, a small town in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province.
He grew up in a middle-class family and attended Thalawa Kanitu Vidyalaya before developing his love for cricket. He has two elder brothers, and from a young age the sport consumed most of his attention.
Thushara developed his unique slinging bowling action during his early club days — an action that reminds many observers of Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka’s legendary pace bowler and Thushara’s own admitted favourite cricketer.
He honed his skills in local club cricket before breaking through at the domestic level. His first-class debut came for the Sinhalese Sports Club on December 26, 2015, in the 2015–16 Premier League Tournament.
He followed it up with his List A debut for the Colombo Cricket Club in the 2017–18 Premier Limited Overs Tournament.
From those early domestic outings, Thushara steadily built a reputation as a death-over specialist who could swing the ball late and generate sharp bounce from a low, skiddy release point.
His ability to bowl consistent yorkers under pressure made him a premium T20 commodity long before his international debut arrived.
Professional Career
Nuwan Thushara made his international debut for Sri Lanka on February 13, 2022, against Australia in a T20I — a full seven years after his first domestic appearance, reflecting just how competitive Sri Lanka’s pace bowling options have been.
Since then, he has become a regular fixture in Sri Lanka’s T20I squad and cemented his value in franchise cricket worldwide.
On March 9, 2024, during the third T20I against Bangladesh, Thushara took his first T20I hat-trick and became only the fifth Sri Lankan bowler ever to achieve that milestone.
That same series also produced his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 internationals, with figures of 5/20. Those two achievements in one series elevated his profile globally almost overnight.
In franchise cricket, Thushara first played for the Galle Gladiators in the Lanka Premier League’s inaugural 2020 season. His performances across the LPL — where he claimed 49 wickets in 36 matches at a best of 5/13 — brought him to the attention of IPL scouts.
The Mumbai Indians bought him for INR 4.8 crore at the IPL 2024 mega auction, following a fierce bidding war involving RCB and KKR.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru then secured him for INR 1.60 crore ahead of IPL 2025.
Beyond the IPL, he has played for MI Cape Town in SA20, Fortune Barishal in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL), Quetta Gladiators in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Dubai Capitals in the ILT20, and most recently signed for the Gulf Giants ahead of the 2025–26 ILT20 season.
Thushara also represented Sri Lanka at the Asian Games 2022 held in Hangzhou, China.
In April 2026, Thushara made international headlines when he filed a lawsuit against Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) for denying him a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to play for RCB in IPL 2026.
His legal argument noted that his SLC contract expired on March 31, 2026, making the NOC refusal an unjustifiable barrier to his livelihood — a case closely mirroring Tabraiz Shamsi’s successful lawsuit against Cricket South Africa in late 2025.
Nuwan Thushara Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Nuwan Thushara has an estimated net worth of $2 million (approximately INR 16 crore).
He built this wealth primarily through his IPL contracts with Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, his central contract with Sri Lanka Cricket, and consistent appearances across T20 franchise leagues in the UAE, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Pakistan.
Contract
Thushara holds a central contract with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), which earns him approximately $40,000 USD per year in base retainer.
In addition, he earns match fees for every international appearance — INR 10 Lakhs per Test match and INR 4 Lakhs per ODI under SLC’s structured pay scale.
His franchise cricket contracts have been the biggest contributor to his earnings, with the IPL alone generating over INR 6.4 crore across two seasons.
As covered by ESPNcricinfo, Thushara’s IPL 2026 participation faced a legal dispute after SLC denied him an NOC despite his central contract ending March 31, 2026.
Salary
Thushara’s income flows from several streams simultaneously. His SLC central contract pays ~$40,000 annually. His IPL salary was INR 4.8 crore in 2024 (Mumbai Indians) and INR 1.60 crore in 2025 (Royal Challengers Bengaluru).
His Gulf Giants ILT20 deal, PSL appearances with Quetta Gladiators, and SA20 stints with MI Cape Town each contribute additional league fees.
Franchise contracts in the BPL and LPL also add to his annual income. Across all these revenue channels combined, his per-year gross earnings are estimated to be well above INR 7–8 crore during peak seasons.
Career Earnings by Year
| Year | IPL Franchise | Contract Value |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mumbai Indians | INR 4.80 Crore |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | INR 1.60 Crore |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru (disputed) | INR 1.60 Crore |
Career Statistics
International T20I Career
| Stat | Figure |
|---|---|
| Matches | 31+ |
| Wickets | 30 |
| Bowling Average | 18.97 |
| Economy Rate | 7.92 |
| Strike Rate | 14.37 |
| Best Bowling | 5/20 |
| 4-Wicket Hauls | 3 |
| 5-Wicket Hauls | 1 |
LPL Career
| Teams | Matches | Wickets | Best | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Galle Gladiators, Jaffna Kings, Dambulla Aura Stars | 36 | 49 | 5/13 | 21.36 | 8.27 |
IPL Career Highlights
| Year | Team | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Mumbai Indians | Death-over specialist |
| 2025 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Death-over specialist |
| 2026 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Signed (NOC disputed) |
FAQs
What is Nuwan Thushara’s net worth?
Nuwan Thushara’s estimated net worth is approximately $2 million (around INR 16 crore). He earned this through IPL contracts, his SLC central deal, and franchise leagues across six countries.
What is Nuwan Thushara’s IPL salary?
Mumbai Indians paid him INR 4.80 crore. Royal Challengers Bengaluru then bought him for INR 1.60 crore ahead of IPL 2025 and retained him for 2026.
Why did Nuwan Thushara file a lawsuit against SLC?
Thushara sued Sri Lanka Cricket in April 2026 after they refused him an NOC to play IPL 2026 with RCB. His argument is that his SLC contract expired on March 31, 2026, making the NOC refusal unlawful and a barrier to earning a livelihood.
What teams has Nuwan Thushara played for in T20 leagues?
He has represented Mumbai Indians and RCB (IPL), Galle Gladiators and other LPL sides, MI Cape Town (SA20), Fortune Barishal (BPL), Quetta Gladiators (PSL), and Gulf Giants (ILT20).
What is Nuwan Thushara’s biggest international achievement?
His biggest achievement to date is his T20I hat-trick against Bangladesh on March 9, 2024 — making him only the fifth Sri Lankan bowler to take a hat-trick in T20 internationals. He also claimed a five-wicket haul (5/20) in the same series.
