The pace duo of Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka has been ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series against India, which gets underway on August 2. Pathirana misses out due to a shoulder injury, with Madushanka plagued by a hamstring problem. Furthermore, the hosts will also lose the services of Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara, who are out due to illness and a fractured thumb respectively.
The injury to four pacers in the run-up to a marquee series against India isn’t exactly the kind of start Sri Lanka would have envisioned. To replace the injured quartet, they have summoned uncapped right-arm seamer Mohamed Shiraz, who is likely to debut. Team manager Mahinda Halangoda revealed that one more pacer will be called up with discussions ongoing on who that will be. Binura Fernando, though, will not be in contention as he’s still recovering from flu.
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“Matheesha has jarred his shoulder, and because it is the same issue that he had during the World Cup last year, they have chosen not to risk it,” Mahinda Halangoda was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Pathirana and Madushanka out; Shiraz and Malinga in for ODI serieshttps://t.co/sG2SGNtBQ1 pic.twitter.com/sW88DAQp03
— DailyMirror (@Dailymirror_SL) August 1, 2024
After getting whitewashed in the T20I series, Sri Lanka will be keen to come back hard in the format. The absence of many key players in the bowling unit, though, makes the task very difficult. Asitha Fernando is supposed to spearhead the pace attack, and seasoned bowlers like Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga are supposed to play important roles.
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On the Indian side, senior cricketers Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and KL Rahul have made their way to the team. Young pacer Harshit Rana has been called up for the series, while Shreyas Iyer, who was earlier denied a BCCI contract this year, has made it to the 15-member squad. It is to be watched whether Iyer would find his place in the playing XI when already present like Rishabh Pant.
The bowling department, though, is seemingly well-prepped for the task ahead in India. This will include a pace trio with Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj, and Arshdeep Singh, while Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav take care of the spin duties. India, therefore, aims at using their balanced squad with experience to their advantage against the weak bowling lineup of the Sri Lankans in order to win the series.
