This teammate of MS Dhoni has made history by getting the first hat-trick of 2025, it is….

We are just a week into 2025 and we have already seen the first hat-trick in ODI cricket. This remarkable feat was achieved by Maheesh Theekshana, a teammate of MS Dhoni in Chennai Super Kings, hailing from Sri Lanka.

The Lankan player became the seventh player from his country to take an ODI hat-trick during the second match against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Wednesday. Theekshana bowled Mitchell Santner and Nathan Smith with the last two deliveries of his seventh over, and then Matt Henry was dismissed off the first ball of his eighth over, marking Theekshana’s first ODI hat-trick.

Replacing Lahiru Kumara for this match, Theekshana was Sri Lanka’s standout bowler, finishing with impressive figures of 4/44 in 8 overs, as New Zealand set a target of 255 for 9 in a rain-affected second ODI. Apart from Theekshana, other Sri Lankans who have scored an ODI hat-trick include Chaminda Vaas, Lasith Malinga, Farveez Maharoof, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga and Shehan Madhushanka.

Vaas has two hat-tricks in ODIs, while the legendary Lasith Malinga has three to his name throughout his ODI career.

Theekshana’s exceptional performance helped contain the Black Caps after they started strong, with all-rounder Rachin Ravindra scoring 79 off 63 balls, including 1 six and 9 fours, and Mark Chapman contributing 62 off 52 balls with 2 six and 5 of four. Together, Ravindra and Chapman powered New Zealand to 143 runs in less than 20 overs.

However, Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga tightened the screws to limit the home team’s victory. Leg-spinner Hasaranga finished with figures of 2/39.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl in the second ODI against New Zealand. Due to rain, the match was reduced to 37 overs per innings. The draw was delayed by 2.5 hours and finally took place at 4 pm while the referees waited for the rain to stop and the garden to dry.

Kamindu Mendis tried to stabilize Sri Lanka’s innings with his 64 runs but it was not enough to turn things around. Sri Lanka faced a tough defeat by 113 runs, after a significant loss to New Zealand in the first ODI. Despite being considerably weakened by injuries and absences, New Zealand clinched the series. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, are almost in top form, but the struggles of their top five batsmen persist, even in a rain-affected match.

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