Wanindu Hasaranga Likely To Miss 3rd ODI vs India Due To Injury

In a massive dent to Sri Lanka, leg-spinning allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga is likely to miss the third and final ODI against India on Friday due to an injury.

According to a report in Cricwire.lk, Wanindu Hasaranga has sustained a minor injury; with Sri Lanka already 2-0 behind in the series, he will be rested from the third ODI as a precautionary measure to be fit for the T20I series starting Sunday.

Pacer Kasun Rajitha, who had come into the second ODI for Isuru Udana, is also injured and will be unavailable for the third ODI. Lahiru Kumara and Akila Dananjaya could be roped in for Friday’s encounter for the injured duo. Ramesh Mendis, Ishan Jayarathna, and Praveen Jayawickrema also are in contention to break into the ODI side.

Wanindu Hasaranga was Sri Lanka’s best bowler in the second ODI – he returned with figures of 3/37 in his 10 overs, claiming the crucial wickets of Prithvi Shaw, Shikhar Dhawan, and Krunal Pandya.

However, his brilliant effort with the ball went in vain as India, after being down at 193/7, managed to chase down the target of 276 with five balls to spare courtesy of an 84-run stand between tailenders Deepak Chahar and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

I have a lot of belief that this young team can start winning soon: Dasun Shanaka

Dasun Shanaka, the recently appointed captain, says that a victory in the second ODI, albeit against a second-string Indian outfit, would have been a major boost to the Sri Lankan team, who has now lost 9 of their last 10 completed international matches. He asserted that the team needs to put their faith in the process, and improvements will be made only then.

“If we had won that last game, it would have been a big boost going into this game. But I have a lot of belief that this young team can start winning soon,” Shanaka, who is Sri Lanka’s 10th captain in the last four years, said on the eve of the third ODI. 

“If you look, even from the England series, the team has been improving little by little. Today our bowlers had a good practice session focusing on their spot bowling, something which is important in a match. Every time we’re out in the field we’re looking at improving. Of course, we can fall back down once in a while, but we need to keep faith in the process. The goal is to end this match on a high note,” he added.