Dambulla Sixers, previously known as Dambulla Aura, Dambulla Giants, Dambulla Viiking, and Dambulla Thunders is 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.
Franchise history 2020 season
2021 season
2022 season
2023 season
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. The IPG Group, 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. At last, Dambulla franchise was bought by a Los Angeles based engineering consultant firm called Sequoia Consultants.
To promote breast cancer awareness and encourage self-examination, Dambulla Sixers played their match against Galle Marvels on July 14 wearing pink jerseys with a pink ribbon. Inspired by successful campaigns in other cricket-playing nations, the initiative aims to significantly impact cancer awareness in Sri Lanka. Galle Marvels also wore a special jersey that mixed pink with their usual neon green to support their program.
2026 season
Before the 2026 LPL player draft, the Sixers signed Dinesh Chandimal, Dushmantha Chameera, Reeza Hendricks and Sahibzada Farhan as pre-draft signings.
Current squad Sources: Players with international caps are listed in bold.
No.NameDate of birthBatting styleBowling styleYear signedSalary (US$)Notes Batters 51 Sahibzada Farhan Right handed 2026 80,000 17 Reeza Hendricks Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 60,000 06 Pavan Rathnayake Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 30,000 65 Marques Ackerman Left handed Right-arm off break 2026 20,000 Wicket-keepers 56 Dinesh Chandimal Right handed 2026 80,000 Captain 48 Niroshan Dickwella Left handed 2026 30,000 All-Rounders 33 Gayana Weerasinghe Right handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 10,000 14 Gulbadin Naib Right-handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 69 Dhananjaya Lakshan Left handed Right-arm medium fast 2026 20,000 25 Ramesh Mendis Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 20,000 2 Sonal Dinusha Left handed Slow left arm Orthodox 2026 20,000 24 Sikandar Raza Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 50,000Replacement for Fazalhaq Farooqi 29 Sachitha Jayathilake Right handed Right-arm leg break 2026 20,000 Spin bowlers 15 Vishwa Kumara Right handed Slow left arm Orthodox 2026 10,000 4 Akila Dhananjaya Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 30,000 61 Maheesh Theekshana Right handed Right-arm off break 2026 50,000 Pace bowlers 5 Dushmantha Chameera Right handed Right-arm fast 2026 60,000 Vice Captain 74 Mohammad Wasim Right handed Right-arm [fast medium]] 2026 30,000 37 Shadley van Schalkwyk Left handed Right-arm medium 2026 15,000
Administration and support staff Position Name Head coach Rangana Herath Assistant coach Piyal Wijetunge Mentor Roshan Mahanama Batting coach Fielding coach Ruvin Peiris Chief executive officer (CEO) Ashley Herath Digital insider Jake Jeakings
History Season Head coach Assistant coach 2020 Owais Shah 2021 Stuart Law Sampath Perera 2022 Mickey Arthur Avishka Gunawardene 2023 Avishka Gunawardene Upul Chandana 2024 Rangana Herath 2026 Piyal Wijetunge
Captains
No.PlayerFromToWonLostTied 1 Dasun Shanaka 20202022249130237.50 2 Niroshan Dickwella 202120212110050.00 3 Sikandar Raza 2022202211000100.00 4 Kusal Mendis 202320238521068.75 5 Dhananjaya de Silva 2023202322000100.00 6Mohammad Nabi 202420248341037.50 7 Dinesh Chandimal 202620267150116.66 8 Dushmantha Chameera 2026202611000100.00
As of 03 August 2026
Seasons YearLeague standingFinal standing 2020 2nd out of 5Playoffs 2021 4th out of 5Playoffs 2022 5th out of 5 League Stage2023 1st out of 5Runners up 2024 5th out of 5 League stage 2026 5th out of 5 League stage
Statistics By season Season Pos.SummaryMost runsMost wickets 2020 9 5 3 1 62.50 2/5 Playoffs Dasun Shanaka (278) Anwar Ali (9) 2021 10 4 5 1 44.44 4/5 Playoffs Phil Salt (301) Imran Tahir (15) 2022 8 2 6 0 25.00 5/5 League Stage Jordan Cox (205) Matthew Forde (7) 2023 10 7 3 0 70.00 1/5 Runners-up Avishka Fernando (244) Noor Ahmad (12) 2024 8 3 5 0 37.50 5/5 League Stage Kusal Perera (296) Dushan Hemantha (11) 2026 8 2 5 1 28.57 5/5 League Stage Reeza Hendricks (294) Dushmantha Chameera (12) Total 53 23 27 3 46.00 0 Titles Dasun Shanaka (544) Nuwan Pradeep (18) Source: Cricinfo
Most runs
RunsPlayerSeasons544 Dasun Shanaka 2020–2022531 Niroshan Dickwella 2020–2026519 Reeza Hendricks 2024-2026506 Kusal Perera 2023-2024301 Phil Salt 2021244 Ramesh Mendis 2020-2026244 Avishka Fernando 2023237 Sadeera Samarawickrama 2020-2023227 Angelo Perera 2020225 Mark Chapman 2024 Source: Cricinfo
Highest individual score
RunsPlayerOppositionVenueDate102* Kusal Perera Jaffna Kings Pallekele 91* Mark Chapman Kandy Falcons 87* Kusal Mendis Colombo Strikers Pallekele Reeza Hendricks Kandy Royals SSC Cricket Ground80 Shevon Daniel Galle Gladiators Colombo Reeza Hendricks Colombo Kaps Pallekele Jaffna Kings Dambulla Kusal Perera Colombo Strikers Source: Cricinfo
Most wickets
WicketsPlayerSeasons18 Nuwan Pradeep 2021–202416 Dushan Hemantha 2022–202415 Imran Tahir 202115 Noor Ahmad 2022–202315 Ramesh Mendis 2020–202612 Dushmantha Chameera 202610 Binura Fernando 202310 Dhananjaya de Silva 202309 Hayden Kerr 202309 Anwar Ali 2020 Source: CricinfoESPNcricinfo, Last Updated: 20 December 2021
Best figures in an innings
FiguresPlayerOppositionVenueDate5/55 Dushmantha Chameera Galle Gallants Dambulla 4/6 Dhananjaya De Silva B-Love Kandy Colombo 4/11 Matthew Forde Galle Gladiators 4/36 Lahiru Kumara Colombo Stars Hambantota 3/14 Dushan Hemantha Kandy Falcons Colombo Source: Cricinfo
Team identity Logo Dambulla Sixers 2024 since 2026
Anthem YearAnthemArtist(s)2021Tony T, Rohitha Rajapaksa, Dinesh Kanagaratnam, Tehani Imara, Neo Navy2022Uthura Dakuna Tharaga Dinana2024Awula Awula Abhimane
Kit manufacturers and sponsors
In the inaugural season, Life Bottled Water, Big Brother, Goa King's, Planet Hollywood and Viiking Ventures became as team sponsors while Swarnavahini, Ran FM, E FM and Shree FM was the media partners. TigerExchange News became the team's main sponsor in the 2022 season. In 2023 season, Babu88 Sports became as the principal sponsor of the Dambulla franchise.
Year Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor (front) Shirt sponsor (back) Chest branding Sleeve branding2020Planet HollywoodGoa King'sLife Bottled WaterBig Brother2021Hamro PLCi-view London, NLB, Lahore Country Club2022Tiger Exchange NewsAura LankaTiger Exchange News, Aura Airlines2023Babu88 SportsKheloyarAura Airlines Visit Sri Lanka2024MostPlay.newsSequoia ConsultantsHarriet 2026 Dafa News JAT Paints Bairaha Farms Flemmings, Harriet
References