Amshi de Silva
Player Information
Amshi de Silva Player Overview
Amshi de Silva is a USA-qualified all-rounder and right-arm pace bowler who joins Abu Dhabi Knight Riders for DP World ILT20 Season 5 in 2026. Born in Galle, Sri Lanka, on 11 November 2001, de Silva bats right handed and bowls right-arm medium to medium-fast pace.
His cricket journey has already crossed several levels and countries. De Silva represented Sri Lanka at Under-19 level, progressed into Sri Lankan domestic and representative cricket, and later moved into the United States cricket system. In 2026, he gained further franchise experience with Texas Super Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders before being selected by ADKR.
Amshi de Silva Playing Style
De Silva is best viewed as a bowling all-rounder. Pace bowling has produced most of his senior opportunities, while his batting provides additional depth. Player records generally classify his bowling as right-arm medium or medium-fast, with his right-handed batting used lower in the order.
His first-class record also shows that he is capable of making a substantial contribution with the bat. De Silva has a first-class century to his name, with a highest score of 104, giving his all-rounder classification more substance than a player used exclusively as a specialist seamer.
Which Team Does Amshi de Silva Play for in ILT20?
Amshi de Silva plays for Abu Dhabi Knight Riders in ILT20 Season 5. ADKR secured him for USD 100,000 at the 2026 player auction, making him the franchise’s second-highest-priced auction signing behind Alishan Sharafu.
De Silva was presented in the Season 5 auction as a USA Associate player. His signing therefore adds an Associate-qualified all-rounder to an ADKR squad containing players from a wide range of international and domestic cricket backgrounds.
See the complete Abu Dhabi Knight Riders Squad 2026 for the full Season 5 player list.
Amshi de Silva Early Career
De Silva developed as a cricketer in Sri Lanka and represented the country at Under-19 level. He was selected in Sri Lanka’s squad for the 2020 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup, an early milestone that placed him among the country’s leading young players of his age group.
He later moved into senior domestic cricket. De Silva made his List A debut for Colombo Cricket Club in October 2021 and subsequently represented Nondescripts Cricket Club and Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club. His Sri Lankan career also included selection for representative sides beyond Under-19 cricket.
Amshi de Silva Sri Lanka Representative Experience
In 2022, de Silva was selected for the Sri Lanka Emerging Team tour of England. That trip gave him experience against English opposition and included his entry into senior T20 cricket. He was also selected in a Sri Lanka A squad during the same period.
His first-class career in Sri Lanka produced 300 runs from 17 matches, including a century and a highest score of 104. Combined with his seam bowling, those appearances helped establish the all-round skill set that later became relevant to his opportunities in American and franchise cricket.
Amshi de Silva in Major League Cricket
De Silva’s career took another step forward in 2026 when he joined Texas Super Kings in Major League Cricket. His first MLC season gave him senior franchise T20 experience in the United States and included several useful spells with the ball.
Among his notable returns were 4/28 against San Francisco Unicorns and 3/15 against Seattle Orcas. Those performances demonstrated his ability to take multiple wickets in franchise cricket and came during the same year that he attracted significant interest at the ILT20 Season 5 auction.
Amshi de Silva and the Knight Riders Connection
Abu Dhabi is not de Silva’s first experience with a Knight Riders team. During the 2026 Caribbean Premier League, he was part of the Trinbago Knight Riders setup. That followed his Major League Cricket campaign with Texas Super Kings earlier in the year.
His move to Abu Dhabi Knight Riders therefore continues a busy 2026 franchise season spanning different competitions. It also gives him an opportunity to experience the ILT20 for the first time after building his career through Sri Lankan domestic cricket and newer franchise opportunities.
Why ADKR Invested $100,000 in Amshi de Silva
De Silva was one of the more notable Associate-player purchases at the Season 5 auction. Abu Dhabi Knight Riders paid USD 100,000 for him, a significant increase over the lower price bands occupied by many emerging and Associate players in the auction.
The attraction is understandable from his recent career profile. He combines Associate-player status with right-arm pace, lower-order batting ability, Sri Lanka Under-19 and representative experience, and recent cricket in both Major League Cricket and the Caribbean Premier League.
Amshi de Silva’s Opportunity in ILT20 Season 5
ILT20 Season 5 represents another important stage in de Silva’s unusual cricket journey. He began in the Sri Lankan pathway, played domestic and representative cricket there, and has since expanded his career through the United States and major franchise competitions.
His USD 100,000 ADKR deal shows that he enters the tournament as more than a depth signing. For de Silva, the 2026 season has already included Texas Super Kings and Trinbago Knight Riders; adding Abu Dhabi Knight Riders gives him another opportunity to establish himself as a pace-bowling all-rounder in a high-level T20 competition.