T20 World Cup 2026: Krishan Kalugamage's superb bowling helped Italy defeat Nepal by 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup. Kalugamage, a hotel chef, took 3 wickets for 18 runs in his 4 overs.

Italy Cricketer Crishan Kalugamage

Italy surprised everyone with its performance in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday. They defeated the favorites Nepal by 10 wickets. It was widely expected that Nepal would defeat Italy, but Italy, on the contrary, scored a landslide victory. Most of the players on the Italian cricket team hold second jobs, including Krishan Kalugamage, who works as a hotel chef. Kalugamage bowled brilliantly against Nepal, earning him the Player of the Match award.

In this match played at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium, Krishan Kalugamage wowed everyone with his spin bowling. He was turning the ball both ways. After the match, Italy coach John Davison, imitating tossing pizza dough, said, "That's why he can spin it (the ball)."

Krishan Kalugamage went to Italy in 2007

Kalugamage moved to Italy with his family from Sri Lanka in 2007, and he felt he had to give up his dream of becoming a cricketer. But despite his struggles, he kept his dream alive, taking a job in a hotel where he worked long shifts.

He then joined the Roma Cricket Club, but his struggles increased there because most matches coincided with busy hotel days. This forced him to quit his job several times. 

Kalugamage wanted to be a fast bowler, but injuries led him to spin bowling. The stand-in captain explained after the match that 12 of the 15 players on the Italian cricket team work outside the country. They work during the day and then practice with the national team.