When Kusal Perera scored 336 runs from 275 balls with 14 sixes and 29 fours for Colts Cricket Club in Sri Lankan domestic competition, it reminded the world of another Sri Lankan left-hander who was popular for his savagery at the top of the order—Sanath Jayasuriya. Even in his early days, Perera had been likened to Jayasuriya for his batting technique and his hunger for runs at a brisk pace. He made his first-class debut for Colts in 2009. His international debut came in an ODI against Australia in 2013. He made his T20I debut the same year against the same opposition. He started out as a middle-order batsman, but Perera was soon promoted to the top of the order. Like his idol, he began to thrive at the top of the order as his aggressive and attack-minded batting gave the Lankans great starts to their innings. He made his Test debut against India in 2015. He was caught in a doping scandal in 2015, but with the backing of the management and the board, he was able to prove his innocence and came back into the team. Perera was appointed as the captain of the ODI team in May 2021 but was replaced by Dasun Shanaka in July 2021.