Sri Lanka faces another significant setback as spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is ruled out for the rest of the ODI series against India due to a left hamstring injury. Jeffrey Vandersay will replace Hasaranga for the final two ODIs. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed that Hasaranga felt pain while delivering the last ball of his spell in the first ODI. An SLC media release on August 3 stated:
“He experienced pain in his left hamstring while delivering the last ball of his 10th over during the first ODI. An MRI performed on the player, following this, confirmed the injury.”
Hasaranga played a pivotal role in securing a tie for Sri Lanka against the strong Indian team in the series opener on August 2. The 27-year-old contributed a gritty 24 off 35 balls, aiding Sri Lanka’s recovery from 142/6 to a competitive 230/8 in 50 overs.
With the ball, he took crucial wickets, including Virat Kohli and KL Rahul, and dismissed Kuldeep Yadav with a superb delivery. He ended with impressive figures of 3/58 in 10 overs, keeping the series level at 0-0. The teams will now move to the second ODI of the three-match series at the same venue (Colombo) on August 4.
Hasaranga also participated in all three matches of the preceding T20I series, which Sri Lanka lost 0-3.
How has Jeffrey Vandersay, Hasaranga’s replacement, performed in ODIs?
Regarding Wanindu Hasaranga’s replacement, Jeffrey Vandersay, the leg-spinner has previously appeared in 22 ODIs for Sri Lanka. At 34 years old, he has delivered a decent performance, taking 27 wickets at an average of 31.54 and maintaining an economy rate of 5.54.
However, his sole outing against India in early 2023 was disappointing; in the final ODI of that series, Vandersay was hit for 59 runs in seven overs without claiming any wickets. Despite this, Vandersay has an impressive ODI record in Sri Lankan conditions, with 16 wickets at an average of 19.37 and an economy rate of 4.83 across nine matches.
He made his debut for Sri Lanka in 2015, and his most recent international appearance was in the ODI series against Zimbabwe earlier this year. Additionally, Vandersay has also played 14 T20Is and one Test match for Sri Lanka.
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