Sri Lankan all-rounder Thisara Perera has been named as Sri Lanka’s limited-overs skipper and his first assignment will be against lethal Team India, who recently defeated Australia and New Zealand in limited-overs series.

Perera will be leading the Lankan squad in both the three-match ODI and three-match T20 series after the conclusion of the third and final Test in the series. Indian are leading the Test series by 1-0 after winning the second Test in Nagpur by an inning and 239 runs.

Thisara will take over the responsibility from opening batsman Upul Tharanga under whose leadership Sri Lanka suffered three dismal 5-0 whitewashes this year including one at home against India.

Following their dismal show in the ICC Champions Trophy, Angelo Mathews’ leadership duties were distributed between Tharanga – in the limited overs – and Dinesh Chandimal – for Tests.

Tharanga has been lethal with the bat but his leadership remains questionable. Last month he opted out of playing in the third and final T20I against Pakistan, to be played in Lahore, due to security concerns. It brought in Perera as captain for the T20Is with SLC opting to name a single squad for the entire series.

According to the reports, there were discussions to hand back the responsibility to Mathews but his constant injury concerns ruled him out. Chandimal was also on the list but his struggles in the shortest format kept him out.