WPL 2024: Chamari Athapaththu wins hearts by singing India's national anthem

The Women’s Premier League 2024 kicked off at Bangalore's M Chinnaswamy Stadium with a clash between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals. Before the match began, the customary Indian national anthem echoed through the stadium, with both teams and even the UP Warriorz team, enjoying the game on the big screen, paying their respects.

A video shared by the UP Warriorz team caught attention online for a special moment as Sri Lankan cricketer Chamari Athapaththu sang along and earned admiration from netizens. Her gesture exemplified sportsmanship and respect for the host nation's anthem, winning hearts beyond boundaries. It was a moment, that added to the spirit of the game and showcased cricket's universal camaraderie.

Here's the video of Chamari Athapaththu singing Indian nation anthem:

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A post shared by UP Warriorz (@upwarriorz)

Athapaththu set to make her first appearance in WPL

The 34-year-old stands as a towering figure, revered for her extraordinary talent and skill on the field. Despite her illustrious career and stellar performances on the international stage, the inaugural edition of the Women’s Premier League in 2023 witnessed a surprising lack of interest in acquiring Athpaththu's services. Even in 2024, as she continued to dismantle bowling attacks with her skillful batting, but the WPL teams remained hesitant to enlist the Sri Lankan star.

For the second consecutive year, Athapaththu went unsold in the players’ auction, seemingly resigned to the possibility of missing out on the prestigious T20 league. However, fate intervened in her favour as she secured a spot in the WPL, stepping in as a replacement for England's Lauren Bell in the UP Warriorz squad. Bell's withdrawal due to national commitments opened the door for Athapaththu, granting her the opportunity to showcase her talent on the grand stage of the WPL.