16/08/2026
🏆🇱🇰 1996 WORLD CUP: THE QUIET HERO BEHIND SRI LANKA’S GLORY — ARJUNA RANATUNGA!
The 1996 Cricket World Cup is forever etched in Sri Lankan sporting history. Sanath Jayasuriya was named Player of the Tournament, while Aravinda de Silva produced a legendary performance in the final.
But behind that historic triumph stood a captain whose contribution with the bat deserves just as much recognition — Arjuna Ranatunga. 🇱🇰🔥
🏏 6 innings
🔥 241 runs
📊 Batting average: 120.50
⚡ Strike rate: 114.76
What made Arjuna special wasn't just the numbers. He knew exactly when to attack, when to build an innings and, most importantly, when to put the team's needs ahead of his own.
And in the 1996 World Cup Final, with pressure mounting around Aravinda de Silva, Arjuna calmly played a crucial unbeaten 47 from 37 balls, helping Sri Lanka chase down Australia's target and lift the World Cup for the first time. 🏆💙
Sanath's explosive batting.
Aravinda's brilliance.
Arjuna's leadership.
Together, they created one of the greatest moments in Sri Lankan cricket history. 🇱🇰❤️
1996 wasn't just a World Cup victory. It was the moment Sri Lanka announced itself to the cricketing world. 🌍🏏