In 2019, he captained the Twenty20 International (T20I) team against Pakistan, with Sri Lanka defeating Pakistan 3-0 in the series under his leadership. In February 2021, ahead of their tour of West Indies, Shanaka was officially named Sri Lanka's T20I captain, replacing Lasith Malinga. In July 2021, Shanaka was also named captain of the Sri Lanka One Day International (ODI) team for their series against India. Shanaka led Sri Lanka to win the 2022 Asian Cup, the sixth title won by the team.

Domestic and T20 Franchise Career

In May 2016, Shanaka scored a century against Leicestershire County Cricket Club in a first-class match on the England tour.
In March 2018, he was named vice-captain of Galle's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament. The following month, he was also named vice-captain of Galle's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.

On June 3, 2018, he was selected in the player draft for the inaugural edition of the Global T20 Canada tournament to play for the Montreal Tigers. In August 2018, he was named in Kandy's 2018 SLC T20 League squad. He was the leading run-scorer for Kandy in the tournament with 312 runs in six games, including a century in Kandy's final match.

In October 2018, he was called up to the squad of the Chittagong Vikings team after the 2018–19 Bangladesh Premier League draft. In March 2019, he was named in Dambulla's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament. In November 2019, he was selected to play for Cumilla Warriors in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.

In October 2020, he was selected by Dambulla Viiking for the inaugural edition of the Lanka Premier League. In August 2021, he was named captain of the SLC Grays team for the 2021 SLC Invitational T20 League tournament. Shanaka was the tournament's top run-scorer and was named Player of the Series. In November 2021, he was selected to play for the Dambulla Giants following the 2021 Lanka Premier League player draft. In July 2022, he was signed by Dambulla Giants for the third edition of the Lanka Premier League.

On 5 February 2023, Dasun scored his 15th T20 in the International League T20 against Mumbai Indians Emirates. He scored an unbeaten 58 runs off 36 balls. He also scored a 122-run partnership with Sikander Raza to give Dubai Capitals a 7-wicket win. Because of his batting, Dasun was named player of the match. In the Eliminator game, Mumbai Indians Emirates defeated Dubai Capitals in Sharjah. They are eliminated from the tournament.

Later the same month, Shanaka joined Rangpur Riders in the 2023 Bangladesh Premier League. He played two matches in the 2023 BPL and took four wickets. In February 2023, he signed with Peshawar Zalmi of the Pakistan Super League. In April 2023, he was signed by the Gujarat Titans for the 2023 Indian Premier League as a substitute for Kane Williamson.

International Career
Debut Years

He was named in Sri Lanka's Twenty20 International (T20I) squad for the series against Pakistan in July 2015. He made his T20I debut on 1 August 2015, playing 58th T20I international for Sri Lanka.

He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka on 19 May 2016 against England on the same tour. He was the 134th Test player for Sri Lanka. He took his first Test wicket by dismissing England captain Alastair Cook. Although he scored 3 for 46 runs, he only scored 4 runs in the two innings and Sri Lanka lost the match by an innings and 88 runs.

He made his One Day International (ODI) debut on June 16, 2016 against Ireland. Shanaka scored 42 runs off 19 balls. While bowling, he took five wickets for 42 runs. He became the 12th player and the third Sri Lankan to take five wickets on debut in an ODI. He was named player of the series after the two games against Ireland.

All-round Capability

He was called up again for the one-off T20I against India in September 2017. Shanaka was unsuccessful at LBW in the match and did not bowl. India won the match by 8 wickets.

In the second Test against India, Shanaka was found guilty of altering the condition of the ball. The incident was caught on cameras and reported to match referee David Boon by the on-field umpires and the third umpire. When he was found guilty, Shanaka was fined 75% of his match fee and three demerit points.

In May 2018, he was one of 33 cricketers awarded a national contract by Sri Lanka Cricket ahead of the 2018–19 season.

Shanaka was included in the ODI squad for the South Africa series in 2018. However, he was not included in the playing eleven in the first three games. In the fourth ODI against South Africa on 8 August 2018 at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium, Shanka top-scored with 65 off 34 balls, making his maiden ODI 50. The innings featured 4 fours and 5 big sixes at a strike rate of 191. Shanaka and Thisara Perera combined for a breakneck seventh-wicket stand of 109 runs to take Sri Lanka to over 300 runs on a rainy day. While fielding, Shanaka took the wicket of Reeza Hendricks and was involved in the run out of JP Duminy. Sri Lanka eventually won the game by three runs using the D/L method, which was their first win against South Africa after 11 consecutive defeats. For his all-round winning performances, Shanaka was named man of the match.

Captain

In September 2019, Shanaka was named captain of Sri Lanka's T20I squad for the series against Pakistan in Pakistan. Under his captaincy, Sri Lanka won the first T20I by 64 runs. This was Sri Lanka's first T20I win against Pakistan in six years. Shanaka led Sri Lanka to win all three T20Is against Pakistan. This was Sri Lanka's first defeat in the T20I series and Pakistan's first defeat in the T20I series. Meanwhile, he became only the third captain, alongside MS Dhoni and Michael Clarke, to win his first three T20Is against Pakistan. In February 2021, Shanaka was again named Sri Lanka's T20I captain, this time for the series against the West Indies. However, he missed the T20I matches as he was unable to travel due to visa issues.

After Sri Lanka lost the series against England in June 2021, Kusal Perera was removed as the team's captain and Shanaka was reappointed as captain for the limited overs series against India. Under his captaincy, the ODI series was lost 1-2. However, Sri Lanka won the T20I series 2-1, registering their first bilateral T20I series win against India. In September, Sri Lanka played a limited overs series against South Africa, where Shanaka was named regular captain of the ODI squad. Sri Lanka later won the ODI series 2-1, which ranks as their first series victory over South Africa in eight years. Later the same month, Shanaka was named captain of the Sri Lanka squad for the 2021 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.

In January 2022, in the second match against Zimbabwe, Shanaka scored his first century in an ODI match with 102 runs. Despite his century, Sri Lanka lost the match by 22 runs. On June 11, 2022, Shanaka delivered a game-winning batting performance against Australia. Sri Lanka needed 59 runs from the last three overs. Shanaka, who scored 6 runs off 12 balls, scored 48 off his next 13 balls to help Sri Lanka reach their target by one ball. Shanaka was later named man of the match at the age of 50. However, Australia won the series 2-1.

In September 2022, Shanaka captained Sri Lanka in the 2020 series of the 2022 Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates. In the first match against Afghanistan, Sri Lanka lost the game by 8 wickets. However, in the next match against Bangladesh, Shanaka scored a match-winning knock of 45 runs and Sri Lanka later won the game by one wicket and entered the Super 4 round. Sri Lanka faced Afghanistan again in the Super 4 tournament, this time achieving a four-wicket win in the first game of the Super 4 round with a ground record 174 in Sharjah, India managed 6 wickets in the next game. In the last Super 4 match against Pakistan, Shanaka led the team from the front and won the game comfortably with a fourth consecutive comeback. In the final, Shanaka lost the toss and batted first. After a winning partnership between Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Wanindu Hasaranga, Sri Lanka posted a total of 170 runs. Chasing Pakistan lost the plan and finished 23 runs short. Under Shanaka's captaincy, Sri Lanka eventually won the Asia Cup title for the sixth time.

On January 5, 2023, Dasun scored his fifth T20I against India. He scored an unbeaten 56 runs off 22 balls, hitting two boundaries, and six sixes, putting 206 runs on the board. While bowling, he took two wickets in the final over to give Sri Lanka a 16-run win. Due to his all-round performance, Dasun was named the player of the match.

On 10 January 2023, Dasun Shanaka scored his 2nd ODI century in a losing cause in the first ODI match against India. He scored an unbeaten 108 runs from 88 deliveries, hitting 12 boundaries and three sixes.

After failing to qualify directly for the 2023 World Cup, Sri Lanka had to participate in the World Cup qualifiers in order to take part in the 2023 World Cup. Sri Lanka won all eight matches including the final to qualify for the World Cup under the captaincy of Dasun Shanaka.

Dasun led the victory against Bangladesh in the first match of the 2023 Asia Cup. This was Sri Lanka's record 11th consecutive ODI win after going unbeaten in World Cup qualifying. Sri Lanka also made history in men's ODI cricket, completely dismissing 11 opponents in a row. Australia and South Africa previously achieved ten times in a row.

Personal Life

Shanaka married his girlfriend Chevanthi of almost three years on September 5, 2020. Their wedding took place at the Avanra Garden Hotel in Negombo.