SL vs IND 2024: Blow to Sri Lanka as all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of ODI series

After guiding Sri Lanka to play a tie against India in the first ODI in Colombo, ace all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga gets ruled out of the remainder of the series due to an injury in his left hamstring. A handy customer with both the bat and the ball, Hasaranga is the latest edition of a long list of first-team players, mostly bowlers, to miss the India series.

Jeffrey Vandersay, 34, is named Hasaranga's replacement for the last two ODIs, the second of which gets underway on Sunday (Aug 4).

"He experienced pain in his left hamstring while delivering the last ball of his 10th over during the first ODI. An MRI performed on the player, following this, confirmed the injury," the SLC media release stated late on Saturday (Aug3).

More worry mounts for SL

Hasaranga joins Dushmantha Chameera (bronchitis and respiratory infection), Nuwan Thushara (thumb), Dilshan Madushanka (hamstring) and Matheesha Pathirana (shoulder) as Sri Lanka star attack that got sidelined with respective injuries.

Meanwhile, even in the absence of these pacers in the XI, the Sri Lankan Team showed heart by not allowing India to walk away with the win in the first ODI. Despite the Men in Blue needing just one run off 15 balls and two wickets remaining to win the match, they tumbled under pressure, losing both wickets off successive balls, leading to a tied result.

Hasaranga was instrumental in helping Sri Lanka post a fighting total (230) after being reduced to 142 for six at one stage. Alongside his fellow all-rounder Dunith Wellalage, who scored a brilliant 67*, Hasaranga scored 24 off 35 balls, hitting two sixes and one four.

While bowling, Hasaranga was among the wickets, picking three, including the big ones of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul. He later clean-bowled Kuldeep Yadav to put Sri Lanka in a commanding position.

(With inputs from agencies)