India, Nov. 8 -- Social media went into overdrive on Friday after photos of Sri Lanka's 1996 World Cup-winning captain, Arjuna Ranatunga, surfaced online recently, showing him in a remarkably slimmer, almost unrecognisable avatar. Ranatunga who turns 62 next month, was recently seen alongside his teammates Sanath Jayasuriya, Aravinda de Silva, and Muttiah Muralitharan during the Tamil Union's 125th anniversary celebrations, where the legendary quartet reunited after years. While fans were delighted to see the stalwarts together, Ranatunga's dramatic physical transformation caught everyone's attention. Dressed in a red kurta, the former cricketer appeared noticeably leaner compared to his playing days, when he was known for his sturdy frame. During his career, Ranatunga often faced scrutiny for his fitness, especially for requesting runners mid-match, something that once sparked a heated on-field exchange with former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy. Alongside Pakistan great Inzamam-ul-Haq, he was often cited as an example of players who defied athletic stereotypes yet delivered match-winning performances. Despite his heavier build, Ranatunga was a formidable cricketer, scoring close to 12,500 runs across formats and leading Sri Lanka to its first-ever World Cup title in 1996. His latest appearance, however, left fans stunned. Many took to social media expressing disbelief and curiosity over the transformation, with some even questioning if the images were real. Some even asked Grok (X's AI chatbot) about his health, expressing concern, while others praised what seemed to be an impressive fitness journey. Interestingly, this isn't the first time Ranatunga's appearance has made headlines. During the 2023 Asia Cup, he drew attention both for his outspoken criticism of the ACC's scheduling decisions and for his noticeably slimmer frame. htc...