SunRisers Hyderabad (SRH) have enlisted Vijaykanth Viyaskanth as a replacement for the injured all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for the remaining matches of IPL 2024. The leg-spinner, originally from Sri Lanka, will join the Orange Army at his base price of INR 50 lakh.
During the auction in Dubai last year, Hasaranga was acquired by the Hyderabad-based franchise for INR 1.5 crore. However, due to a heel injury, the Sri Lankan cricketer will be sidelined for all matches. The 26-year-old did not travel to India for the lucrative tournament and is currently focusing on recovering in time for the T20 World Cup 2024, which begins on June 2.
Viyaskanth, who shares a similar skill set with Hasaranga as a leg-spinner, has featured in just one T20I for Sri Lanka to date, debuting during the Asian Games 2023. In 33 T20 matches, the 22-year-old has taken 42 wickets at an average of 18.78, with an economy rate of 6.76.
🚨 ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
Wanindu Hasaranga will be unavailable for the season due to injury. We would like to wish him a speedy recovery.
Sri Lankan spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has joined the squad as his replacement for the rest of #IPL2024. Welcome, Viyaskanth! ✨ pic.twitter.com/A2Z5458dH8
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers) April 9, 2024
SunRisers Hyderabad will take on Punjab Kings in an away match scheduled for Tuesday
On Tuesday, the Sunrisers Hyderabad will clash with the Punjab Kings in Mullanpur, aiming to extend their winning streak. Under the leadership of Pat Cummins, who was acquired for a staggering INR 20.25 crore, Hyderabad has performed commendably in IPL 2024.
The SunRisers began their campaign with a valiant four-run defeat against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the Eden Gardens. In their subsequent match, Cummins’ squad posted the highest total in IPL history, scoring 277 runs against the Mumbai Indians, securing a 31-run victory.
In the next game, they suffered a significant defeat against the Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. However, they bounced back strongly with an impressive victory over the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in Hyderabad. Now, the Sunrisers Hyderabad will rely on Vijaykanth Viyaskanth to strengthen their bowling lineup. The Punjab Kings are also entering the match after a win, making it a tough challenge for SRH.
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