Kevin Koththigoda. Photo: File

Sri Lanka's 18-year-old spinner, Kevin Koththigoda, has left cricket fans with his unorthodox bowling action in utter bewilderment.

In the ongoing edition of the ACC U-19 Asia Cup in Malaysia, Team Sri lanka introduced Koththigoda, who holds a bowling action reminiscent of South Africa's chinaman exponent Paul Adams.

The spinner is the latest entrant to this list of bowlers trying to challenge batsmen with their mysterious action.

Kevin Koththigoda bowling action - YouTube

Unorthodox bowling action of SL U19 cricketer

Koththigoda made his instant impression during Sri Lanka's Group B clash against Afghanistan. In the game at Bayuemas Oval, Koththigoda sent down eight tidy overs and picked up a wicket to help his team defend a paltry total of 196 on a surface conducive for spin.

Koththigoda hails from a place called Unawatuna in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka.

The town is reportedly a few miles away from the iconic Galle Cricket Stadium. 

Apart from being a leg-spinner, the bowler is also a useful lower-order batsman and a live-wire on the field.

Coached by former Sri Lanka 'A' batsman Dhammika Sudarshana, the teenager first came into limelight by representing Richmond College.

However, Richmond College already boasted of a quality leg-spinner in the form of Wanindu Hasaranga who made his senior debut in the ODI series against Zimbabwe. Hence, Koththigoda switched to arch-rival Mahinda College.

Speaking to press, Sudarshana quipped, "He has a very unusual action. It's like that of Paul Adams. The action wasn't coached or anything, it came naturally to him. Initially, he was struggling with the length as he couldn't see the pitch. But he has (now) improved tremendously."