Ex-Sri Lanka star rushed to hospital after Rishabh Pant-like gruesome road accident, car badly destroyed after collision with lorry

Former Sri Lanka's star cricketer Lahiru Thirimanne has been rushed to hospital after horrible road accident on Thursday, March 14 in the Thrippane area of Anuradapura, Sri Lanka. According to police reports, Thirimanne sustained minor injuries and was admitted to the Anuradhapura Teaching Hospital. 

Lahiru Thirimanne hospitalised after fatal road accident 

The accident occurred around 7:45 AM when the car Thirimanne was traveling in collided with a lorry coming from the opposite direction. The car has been charred after the head-on collision with the lorry, as reported by Ada Derana.

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Three other individuals in the car, along with the lorry driver and another person, were also injured and received medical attention. Thirimanne's accident left many comparing it with Rishabh Pant's horrific car accident which took place in December 2022.

Thirimanne's impressive cricketing career

Thirimanne, though retired in 2022, boasts an impressive international cricket career. Across formats, he represented Sri Lanka in 44 Tests, 127 ODIs, and 26 T20Is. Thirimanne participated in three T20 World Cups, including the victorious campaign in 2014, and two Cricket World Cups. He even donned the captain's hat for Sri Lanka in five ODI matches. Notably, 2015 stands out as his most consistent year in ODIs, amassing 861 runs with a century and six fifties in 25 matches.

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Thirimanne carved a niche for himself as a reliable left-handed batter in Sri Lankan set up. His talent emerged as senior players like Sanath Jayasuriya and TM Dilshan neared the end of their careers. At the age of just 21 years, Thirimanne received his maiden call-up for the national team in 2010 during the Bangladesh tri-series against India. While not always part of the playing eleven initially, promising performances secured him a regular place in the Sri Lankan squad. Following Dilshan's retirement, Thirimanne solidified his position as a dependable top-order batter. His experience and leadership qualities were recognized when he captained the national side in the absence of Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lankan cricket faced a period of decline following the retirement of legends like Lasith Malinga, Kumar Sangakkara, and Mahela Jayawardene. The team struggled to maintain their past dominance and the pressure to succeed weighed heavily on younger players. To address this challenge, the cricket board opted for a strategic revamp, prioritising the development of a new top-order batting line-up. This shift led to the selection of Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, and Pathum Nissanka, ultimately contributing to Thirimanne's decision to retire from international cricket in 2022.

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