As per the recent reports, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne have been recalled to feature in the Sri Lanka squad for the remaining three ODIs against India in order to replace of opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka and Captain Upul Tharanga.

More surprisingly, Chamara Kapugedera will lead the side in Tharanga’s absence. Asanka Gurusinha, Sri Lanka’s cricket manager, and a selector said the selectors decided to go with Kapugedera, as he was already serving as Tharanga’s deputy in the series.

According to the quotes in ESPNCricinfo, Gurusinha said, “The main reason for appointing Kapu as the captain is because he was actually Upul’s deputy in the first two matches, and we wanted to stick with him, rather than bringing someone from outside. We wanted someone who can hold his place in the side as well. He’s also respected in the team.”

Kapugedera has the experience of 100 ODIs and averages 21.22 in the format with eight fifties. He hasn’t led Sri Lanka before. However, in Pallekele, along with Milinda Siriwardana, he stitched a 91-run partnership. In his six ODI innings, Kapugedera averages 11.83.

Neither Chandimal nor Thirimanne was part of Sri Lanka’s ODI squad against Zimbabwe last month, as they haven’t been considered as in-form batsmen in ODIs.