Maheesh Theekshana has become a go to bowler for Sri Lanka in the shorter formats of the match. He’s known for his carrom balls and changes of pace which has troubled even the best batsmen. His games against Bangladesh stand out especially in important matches like the Asia Cup. He may not always grab the headlines but his numbers against Bangladesh shows how valuable he is to the team in both ODIs and T20Is.
Let’s break down his record against Bangladesh in different formats.
ODI Stats and Records vs Bangladesh
Since 2023, Maheesh Theekshana has played 8 ODIs against Bangladesh and has bowled steadily. He’s picked up 8 wickets in these matches with an economy rate of 4.41 which is good in today’s one day cricket. His best of 3/69 shows he can break partnerships and keep the scoring down when it matters most.
| Team | Matches | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Average | Econ | Strike Rate | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 8 | 67.0 | 296 | 8 | 37.00 | 4.41 | 50.2 | 0 | 0 |
His average of 37.00 might look a bit high but when you consider he’s a middle overs spinner who bowls both defensively and aggressively it’s a decent return. His ability to keep the runs down has been a big reason why Sri Lanka has put pressure on Bangladesh in these matches.
T20I Stats and Records vs Bangladesh
T20Is have been a different story. Theekshana has played 8 T20Is against Bangladesh from 2022 to 2025. His economy rate is a bit on the higher side at 7.84 but he’s still managed to take 6 wickets with his best being 2/37.
| Team | Matches | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Average | Econ | Strike Rate | 4W | 5W |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bangladesh | 8 | 31.3 | 247 | 6 | 41.16 | 7.84 | 31.5 | 0 | 0 |
His average of 41.16 isn’t amazing but Theekshana is often brought on during the toughest overs, like in the powerplay and at the end where bowlers are more likely to concede runs. His variations still make him a threat especially if the pitch has some turn.
Asia Cup Stats and Records vs Bangladesh
The Asia Cup has given Theekshana some memorable moments against Bangladesh. His performances in the 2023 tournament was key to Sri Lanka’s success. He played in two important matches – one in the group stage and another in the Super Four – and certainly made an impact.
| Year | Match Stage | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Group Stage | 8 | 1 | 19 | 2 | 2/19 |
| 2023 | Super Four | 9 | 0 | 69 | 3 | 3/69 |
His economical spell of 2/19 in the group stage let Sri Lanka control the game early. Even in the Super Four match where he went for more runs in his 9 overs his 3 wickets helped swing the game in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Theekshana’s stats against Bangladesh make it seem like a bowler you can count on. He is indeed a flexible bowler and performs well under pressure situations; keeping a low run rate in ODIs, mixing up his variations in T20Is, and delivering in crucial moments in the Asia Cup-theekshana has proved that he can rise to the occasion.
His averages may not be eye-popping, but when you really analyze the periods that he bowls in-the middle overs, difficult situations, claiming important wickets-you see a bowler who puts in some real hard yards and more often than not, changes the game for Sri Lanka. With a more exciting competition developing between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, Theekshana would definitely continue to be Sri Lanka’s bowling force.
