The Renegades have added to their bowling attack for BBL|12, recruiting from within their own four walls through the addition of Academy product Ruwantha Kellapotha.

The 31-year-old is a promising leg-spinner, who has been a formidable addition to the Renegades' Academy and will join their senior squad as the club's first overseas replacement player for the summer.

The Sri Lankan bowler has risen through the ranks of Victorian cricket since arriving in Melbourne in 2013, beginning in the Dandenong District Cricket Association, before featuring at the Premier leel with Casey-South Melbourne.

Kellapotha collected 46 wickets with Swans with their First XI and in the Super Slam to take out the competition's leading wicket-taker award last summer.

His stellar season was rewarded with a promotion to Victoria's second side.

Kellapotha will now take the next step toward first-class cricket, with the Renegades announcing the signing of the untried spinner.

“I’m really excited to be joining the Renegades,” Kellapotha said in a club statement. 

“My journey has been a bit different. I played first-class cricket back in Sri Lanka, came here in 2013 to play local cricket and then last year went to Premier cricket. 

“I’d achieved what I wanted to achieve in local cricket, so next I wanted to see what I could do in Premier Cricket. Now I want to see what I can do at the highest level.

It’s going to be a great experience for me, playing in the Big Bash and against some of the best players in the world.

“I really appreciate the Renegades for giving me the opportunity to be involved this year, it is a huge privilege. I want to be a team player and whatever my team needs, I’ll give it 100 per cent.”

Kellapotha joins Liam Livingstone, Akeal Hosein and Mujeeb Ur Rahman as international listed players for BBL|12.

The Renegades still have three local player list spots open for the upcoming tournament.