Huge blow to Sri Lanka ahead of first T20I, their highest-wicket taker vs India ruled out of series due to injury

Sri Lanka have dealt a huge blow days ahead of the first T20I of the three-T20I series starting July 2024. Pacer Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out of the T20I series due to an injury he sustained during Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024. 
 

The news comes a day after Sri Lanka announced a 16-member squad for the T20I series. As per Sri Lanka Cricket selection committee chairman Upul Tharanga, Chameera's medical report came in yesterday. He did not reveal the extent of the injury but confirmed that the 32-year-old pacer won’t take part in the series. 

Chameera played five matches in LPL 2024 for Kandy Falcons and bagged six wickets at an average of 33.16. His economy rate of 9.95 runs per over wasn't impressive as well.

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Chameera's T20I record vs India

Chameera is Sri Lanka's highest wicket-taker in the format against India. He has 16 wickets from 15 games at an average of 26.68. Asitha Fernando may replace him in the squad ahead of the first T20I. After Chameera got ruled out, Sri Lanka have two speciallist pacers in Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara in their squad excluding all-rounder Dasun Shanaka. 

In Chameera's absence, former captains Shanaka (14 wickets) and Wanindu Hasarana (13 wickets) have a chance to go past Chameera's tally.

Injury-prone Chameera 

Chameera's career has been marred with injuries. Earlier this year, he suffered a quadriceps injury and was ruled out of ODIs against Afghanistan. He has had side strains, stress fracture in back in his career that made him miss the action. 

In the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, he played just one match for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) as he spent most of the time on the bench. Naturally, Australia's left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc was preferred over him. 
 

Sri Lanka's updated T20I squad 

Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara
 

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