Even before the series has kicked off, Sri Lanka have suffered two major injury blows that have rendered them depleted. Ahead of their three-match T20I series against India, Sri Lanka have lost the services of two key pacemen due to various reasons.
Sri Lanka will be hosting India for the first time in white-ball cricket since 2021. The tour comprises three T20Is and as many ODI matches. The T20I series will be played in Pallekele, starting July 27, followed by the ODI series in Colombo.
India are the T20 World Cup champions, having won the crown last month in Barbados by defeating South Africa in the final. On the other hand, Sri Lanka failed to go past the group stage, which included a loss against Bangladesh. They will be led by the new captain Charith Asalanka.
2 injured Sri Lankan fast bowlers against India and their replacements:
Dushmantha Chameera
![2 injured Sri Lankan fast bowlers against India](https://www.icecric.news/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/dushmanta-chameera-injury-ft-1721834100-1024x576.jpg)
Senior seamer Dushmantha Chameera will miss the upcoming T20I rubber against the Men In Blue. He’s been ruled out of the series, not due to injury this time, but because of bronchitis and a respiratory infection. Chameera has already missed a lot of international cricket due to his injury-prone body, and this respiratory infection is further denting his ambitions.
He has been replaced by Asitha Fernando, a 26-year-old right-arm seamer with experience of only 3 T20I matches so far.
Nuwan Thushara
The second casualty for Sri Lanka in their pace-bowling department is the slingy-actioned Nuwan Thushara. Thushara’s loss is huge as he is an X-factor with his slingy action like Lasith Malinga and was in good form recently: he picked up 8 wickets in 3 matches at the T20 World Cup.
He will miss the India T20I series due to an injury to his left hand that he sustained while doing fielding practice on Wednesday. Left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka, who was impressive during last year’s ODI World Cup in India, has been called up as Thushara’s replacement for this T20I series.
Check Out: Injured Sri Lankan fast bowlers against India
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