Kusal Perera Ruled Out Of India Series Due To Shoulder Injury

Sri Lanka have suffered a massive blow as former captain and wicketkeeping-opener Kusal Perera has been ruled out of the upcoming home ODI and T20I series against India due to a shoulder injury.

The SLC announced that the left-hander sustained a right shoulder sprain during training, and will miss out on the matches starting July 18th in Colombo.

Not only the hosts are losing their opener, but also they will be without their first-choice wicketkeeper, while the next option, Niroshan Dickwella is under suspension following a bio-bubble breach on the tour to England. Two other top-order batters, Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka are also suspended for the bio-bubble breach with Dickwella.

Kusal Perera scored one fifty on the England tour, where the visitors lost 5 matches – 3 T20Is and 2 ODIs – and one ODI was washed out.

Also, pacer Binura Fernando, who made his ODI debut in Bangladesh in May, is ruled out of the ODI series as he sprained his left ankle during a practice session on Thursday. He may be fit by the time for the T20I series, which starts on July 25.

Dasun Shanaka named as new captain replacing Kusal Perera:

Even if Kusal Perera wasn’t injured, he was set to be sacked as the captain of the white-ball sides, with Dasun Shanaka taking the captaincy role from the India series. It is believed that Kusal Perera was a key member involved in the strife between the players and the board regarding their contracts.

Under the southpaw, Sri Lanka lost an ODI series in Bangladesh and then the T20I and ODI series in England.

Sri Lanka have not officially named their squad yet. India’s second-string squad is going to be captained by Shikhar Dhawan.

Also Read: T20 World Cup Group Draws To Be Announced On Friday During A Ceremony In Oman