A Sri Lankan cricketer who was cleared of sexually assaulting a woman in Australia has poked fun at the high-profile case as he debuts a new relationship.

Danushka Gunathilaka, 34, was arrested in November 2022 and charged with allegedly sexually assaulting a Tinder date while he was in Sydney with the Sri Lankan T20 cricket team for the World Cup.

Police had alleged he had removed a condom without consent, also known as “stealthing”, during a sexual encounter with the woman in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

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He was acquitted in September 2023 during a judge-alone trial, with District Court Judge Sarah Huggett noting there were “deficiencies” in the prosecution’s case and the credibility of the complainant.

Now, Gunathilaka has revealed the impact the case had on him as he showcased his new relationship on Instagram this week.

“I’m not sure what’s more terrifying, the wedding or the potential for a future court date,” he wrote, alongside photos of him posing alongside his new girlfriend.

“Send wine ... and maybe a lawyer referral.”

Fans flocked to the comments section to wish the sports star congratulations.

“Stunning couple,” one follower wrote.

“Looking beautiful together,” a second said.

One of Gunathilaka’s friends added: “My brother & sister. Love you.”

The relationship launch signals that Gunathilaka has quietly parted ways from his girlfriend, Celine, who supported him during his trial.

During the four-day hearing, his former partner was frequently pictured holding his hand as she accompanied him to court.

When the ruling was handed down, he thanked Celine for standing by his side throughout the ordeal.

“The last 11 months have been really hard for me and especially for my lawyers, my manager, Celine and my parents and a few other people back in Sri Lanka,” he said at the time.

“Everyone believed me and that means a lot to me. I’m happy that my life is normal again, so I can’t wait to go back and play cricket.”

The batsman met up with the accuser at Sydney’s Opera Bar on November 2, 2022, after they matched on Tinder before returning to her home and having sex.

Gunathilaka was arrested a few days later after she made a report to police.

He was initially charged with four counts of sexual assault, three of which were ultimately dropped before the matter proceeded to court on a single charge of stealthing.

The woman told the court she said to the cricket star she would only agree to have sex if he wore a condom, which he “grumbled about” but agreed to.

The court heard the woman told police in her first interview that the condom was taken off “against her will”, but Judge Huggett said the woman failed to include “critical evidence” — which she later provided in another statement six months later.

After considering all the evidence, Judge Huggett ruled there was “no opportunity” for Gunathilaka to remove the condom because the intercourse was “continuous”.

“The deficiencies in the prosecution case of stealthing, remembering that the prosecution case was not one of rough or aggressive sexual intercourse, were apparent,” Judge Huggett said at the time.

“They were not the result of the factual findings made at trial … Nor were the deficiencies related simply to the credibility of the complainant.

“There were so many inherent issues and difficulties with the prosecution case that should have been obvious to the prosecution at the outset.”

Gunathilaka was awarded costs over the case.

He returned to Sri Lanka in October 2023 with Celine and has since resumed playing cricket.