Sri Lanka have announced the squad for the upcoming Test series against India. The side would be led by Dimuth Karunaratne while Dhananjaya de Silva will be his deputy. Kusal Mendis’ availability depends on fitness and Ramesh Mendis will not be a part of the team due to injury.
Apart from this Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya de Silva have been drafted into the T20I squad in place of injured Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana.
“In the meantime, Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya De Silva have been drafted into the T20I squad in place of injured Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana,” a release from SLC said.
“Both Mendis and Theekshana suffered hamstring injuries during the 5th T20I vs Australia.”
“Maheesh Theekshana will return home, whilst Wanindu Hasaranga also will return home from Australia,” it added.
India and Sri Lanka are slated to play a two-match Test series which will begin on March 4, 2022 in Mohali. The second clash will be held in Bengaluru from March 12, 2022. Sri Lanka as a unit have been on a roll in recent times, steamrolling over opposition teams in their home conditions that have massively supported spin bowling. Lasith Embuldeniya for example has enjoyed an exceptional season in the run-up to the India series, routing oppositions at home.
However, Lanka will be met with a completely different set of conditions in Mohali, Punjab - a ground that traditionally supports movement in the first hour of the day. This series will have large implications for Sri Lanka as they are currently at the top of the World Test Championship table.
SQUAD: Dimuth Karunaratne (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva (Vice-Captain), Kusal Mendis (subject to fitness), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrema, Lasith Embuldeniya