It is a dream of almost every cricketer to win an ODI World Cup for their country. Some get a chance to do so, while only a few are able to achieve it. Winning a 50-over World Cup is probably considered the pinnacle of success in

cricket. Several countries have won it so far, and Sri Lanka is one of them. Here, in this article, we look at the Sri Lankan players with the highest number of matches in 50-over World Cups.

1. Mahela Jayawardene(40 MATCHES)

Mahela Jayawardene’s name is synonymous with Sri Lankan cricket. One cannot talk about Sri Lankan cricket without mentioning him. He was an ideal figure for the team and was always used to leading from the front. The only success he lacked was an ODI World Cup trophy, which he narrowly missed out on in 2007 and 2011.He represented Sri Lanka in five World Cups (1999–2015) and played 40 matches, the third highest ever, and scored 1100 runs with four centuries to his name.

2. Muttiah Muralidharan(40 MATCHES)

Next, we have the spin king, Muttiah Muralidharan, who also represented Sri Lanka in ODI World Cups 40 times. He played in five World Cups from 1996 to 2011, which means he was also part of the World Cup winning team of 1996. In his 40 World Cup matches, he took 68 wickets at an impressive average of 19.63 and an economy rate of 3.89.

3. Sanath Jayasuriya(38 MATCHES)

Sri Lanka’s one of the finest opening batsmen, Sanath Jayasuriya, features next on the list. He was known to be a blistering and aggressive batter who gave his team solid starts and built pressure on the opposition straight away. He played in five World Cups for Sri Lanka from 1992 to 2007 and scored 1165 runs in 38 matches. The left-hander used to bowl some off-spin as well and took 27 wickets in his World Cup career.

4. Kumar Sangakara (37 MATCHES)

Kumar Sangakkara, a left-handed wicketkeeper batter, is the next to show up on the list. There isn't much to say about him because his records and batting speak for themselves. The former Sri Lankan captain played in four ODI World Cups for Sri Lanka from 2003 to 2015 and scored plenty of runs. In 37 matches, he has scored 1532 runs at an incredible average of 56.74 with five hundreds to his name. Also, he is the first batter in cricket history to score five World Cup centuries.

5. Aravinda De Silva (35 MATCHES)

Next, we have the star of 1996 World cup winning campaign of Srilanka, Aravinda de Silva. He was everywhere and did everything in that final against Australia. In the first innings, he took three crucial wickets and then made an unbeaten 107 in the chase helping Srilanka lift their first World cup trophy. Not to forget, he was also the star in the semi-final against India and bagged the man of the match award in both semi-final and final. In all, he played five World cups (1987-2003) and scored 1064 runs in 35 matches.

6. Chaminda Vaas (31 MATCHES)

Chaminda Vaas, the left-arm quick bowler, was certainly Sri Lanka’s premier new ball bowler in the late 90s and early 2000s. He was sharp, accurate and spot-on with his line, length and swing. From 1996 to 2007, Vaas represented Sri Lanka in World Cups and took 49 wickets in 31 matches at an average of 21.22. His figures of 6 for 25 against Bangladesh in the 2003 World Cup are the best bowling figures for a Srilankan bowler in ODI World Cups.

7. Arjuna Ranatunga (30 MATCHES)

Next, we have the 1996 World Cup-winning captain of Sri Lanka, Arjuna Ranatunga. He was known for his leadership, attitude, and, of course, his batting. The way he led his team was certainly an example for everyone. The former Sri Lankan captain represented Sri Lanka in five World Cups from 1983 to 1999. In 30 matches, he scored 969 runs at an average of 46.14.

8. Lasith Malinga (29 MATCHES)

Slinga Malinga, the king of yorkers and slower balls, comes next on the list. From his unique bowling style to his unique hairstyle, Malinga was different in all senses, yet very effective and valuable for his team. He represented Sri Lanka in ODI World Cups from 2007 to 2019 and played 29 matches. He took a total of 56 wickets at an average of 22.87 with the best bowling figures of 6 for 38, second best for any Srilankan bowler in World Cups.

9. Tilakratane Dilshan(27 MATCHES)

Tilakratane Dilshan, the fiery and blistering opening batter, is next on the list. From 2007 to 2015, he played for Sri Lanka in three ODI World Cups and scored 1112 runs in 27 matches at an impressive average of 52.95. In the 2011 World Cup, he was the highest run scorer with 500 runs to his name at an incredible average of 62.50, which helped Sri Lanka reach the final.

10. Hashan Tilakaratane (24 MATCHES)

Hashan Tilakratane, the left-handed middle-order batter from Colombo, is next on the list. Hashan was an important figure in the middle order for Sri Lanka and provided stability and solidity to the team. He played in four World Cups from 1992 to 2003 and scored 386 runs in 24 matches at an average of 27.57. He was also a member of the World Cup winning team of 1996.