The Sri Lanka cricket team have to face a huge blow with the commencement of the first India vs Sri Lanka Test at the Galle International Stadium on July 26. Middle order batsman Asela Guneratne has been ruled out of the first test after he got injured while fielding at the second slip. His left thumb was fractured as he was attempting a catch of India opener Shikhar Dhawan off the bowling of Lahiru Kumara. As reported by PTI, Gunaratne was soon taken back to Colombo for an operation.
Shikhar Dhawan was playing on 31 when he was dropped at the second slip. Later, Dhawan went on to register his fourth Test half-century just before lunch and smashed 5th Test century in the next session. This was his 5th international Test century which came off just 110 balls. He opened the innings with Abhinav Mukund after skipper Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat first.
In the latter half of the second session, Dhawan also crossed 150 runs benchmark while batting with Cheteshwar Pujara who also knocked his 16th international Test 50.
Asela Gunaratne sustains fracture to his left thumb, in doubt for the remainder of the #SLvIND series https://t.co/AuEmstfHgI pic.twitter.com/f6exIr53Kj
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 26, 2017
Unfortunately, Asela Gunaratne has fractured his thumb and won’t take any further part in this Test! We wish him a speedy recovery. #SLvIND
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) July 26, 2017
Sadly for them, things not going Sri Lanka’s way. Asela Gunaratne will miss the rest of the test match with a broken thumb.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) July 26, 2017
Unfortunately, the Sri Lankan has lost a man in form in the going match. Gunaratne played a very impressive knock of 80 runs against Zimbabwe in the last Test match he played. Now when he has been ruled out, the Sri Lankan side has to bat with 10 batsmen in both their innings.
Prior to this series, Sri Lanka’s newly appointed skipper Dinesh Chandimal was dropped from the squad as he suffered pneumonia and currently recovering. Spinner Rangana Herath was appointed as the stand-in captain for the first match.
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