series at home in 2009, Kulasekara was the highest wicket-taker in the three-match test series. He received the man-of-the-match award for his bowling performance in the second test. Sri Lanka won the series 2–0, and Kulasekara received the player-of-the-series award. He took 17 wickets, for an average of 15.05 and an economy of 2.67. His 4 for 37 is his third four-wicket haul in his last two tests. Kulasekara was on the 2009 World ODI team (captained by MS Dhoni), which was announced during the ICC Awards. On 23 May 2010 against New Zealand, he ripped through New Zealand's batting with three wickets in his first over and ended with three for four runs. Sri Lanka won the match by seven wickets, and Kulasekara was man of the match. He was named to the test squad for the West Indies series in 2010. Ups and downs Kulasekara and Malinga spearheaded the Sri Lankan team since their debut in 2003 and 2004, where they combined to win matches. During a Twenty20 international against England in Bristol, they produced match-winning combined figures of three wickets for 30 runs in seven overs. Sri Lanka won the match by nine wickets. Injured in October 2012, Kulasekara played in the semi-final of the fifty-over domestic tournament. He made a comeback with two for 37 in seven overs for Colts Cricket Club against Nondescripts, and was recalled for the test and ODI series against South Africa. Kulasekara did not play in the test series, but played all five ODIs without distinction; he took two wickets in the series, at an average of 107.00. After a CB series in Australia, he was recalled to the test squad for the Pakistan series in 2012. Kulasekara was the highest wicket-taker in the two-match T20I series against Pakistan, taking four wickets at an average of 6.50; the series was drawn, 1-1. Kulasekara and Malinga took seven wickets apiece during the ODI series in Pakistan, which Sri Lanka won 3–0. In July 2012, Kulasekara was ruled out of the five-ODI series against India after a first-match injury while attempting a catch to dismiss Virender Sehwag in the eleventh over. On 25 October of that year, he was named as vice-captain of Sri Lanka's T20I squad for its tour against New Zealand. On 18 January 2013, Kulasekara had his first (and only) five-wicket match with inswing bowling in the third ODI against