Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have suffered a major blow in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Star Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the entire tournament due to the heel injury he has been nursing for a while now.
Wanindu Hasaranga experienced chronic heel pain in his left foot during the recent white-ball series against Bangladesh. The Sri Lanka medical team confirmed that the T20I skipper of Sri Lanka is facing pain because of wear and tear of the musculoskeletal apparatus.
Wanindu Hasaranga then traveled to Dubai to see a specialist and the leg-spinner was deemed unfit to take part for Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. He was supposed to get clearance from Sri Lanka Cricket only after visiting the specialist. However, it seems that he didn’t get the fitness clearance.
Sunrisers Hyderabad released the official statement related to the development surrounding Wanindu Hasaranga. The franchise took to their Twitter account and stated: “Wanindu Hasaranga will be unavailable for the season due to injury. We would like to wish him a speedy recovery.”
Wanindu Hasaranga was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 auction. The leg-spinner was brought by the franchise for INR 1.5 crore. He was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the last two seasons and the franchise letting him go was one of the biggest surprises.
Wanindu Hasaranga in the IPL 2022 picked 26 wickets with an economy of 7.54 and was amongst the top wicket-takers in the league. In 2023, the Sri Lanka T20I captain didn’t have a big impact as he played just eight games and took nine wickets with an economy of 8.9.
Wanindu Hasaranga missing the entire season for Sunrisers Hyderabad will be a major blow for the team. The Pat Cummins-led are struggling with their spin bowling in the tournament and had Hasaranga being there, they surely would’ve been one of the hot contenders for the title with all the bases covered.
Sunrisers Hyderabad named Sri Lankan spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as Wanindu Hasaranga’s replacement
As Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, Sunrisers Hyderabad named Sri Lankan spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as the replacement. The young spinner has joined the team and will be available for the team from the game against Punjab Kings on Tuesday (9th April).
Releasing the official statement on the replacement, Sunrisers Hyderabad stated: “Sri Lankan spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has joined the squad as his replacement for the rest of #IPL2024. Welcome, Viyaskanth!”
🚨 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
Vijayakanth was part of the Sri Lanka squad in the Asian Games last year and he played in one match and took 1/28 from four overs. Overall he has played 33 T20s so far in his career and picked up 42 wickets at an economy of 6.76.
