Nuwan Thushara broke a finger during practice and will not be able to play in the T20I series against India, and Sri Lanka loses another fast bowler due to injury for the upcoming T20I series. In his place, Dilshan Madushanka joins the team.
Mahinda Halangoda, the team manager, verified that Thushara’s injury was to his non-bowling hand. Even still, it’s serious enough to rule him out. Halangoda stated that Sri Lanka was practicing under lights when the injury happened to Thushara late on Wednesday.
He is the second fast bowler from Sri Lanka to be excluded from the series due to injury. Earlier, Asitha Fernando took Dushmantha Chameera’s place in the Sri Lankan team due to injury issues.
Thushara’s injury is a major setback for the hosts. The bowler had been in exceptional form from last year; at the T20 World Cup last month, he finished as the team’s top wicket-taker. With the best figures of 4/18, he had taken eight wickets at an economy of 5.62 in his three games.
Thushara has become a regular starter in Sri Lanka’s T20I XI. He took eight wickets in the three T20 World Cup matches Sri Lanka played, establishing himself as one of their best bowlers. Earlier in the year, he amassed 5 for 20 against Bangladesh and claimed a T20I hat-trick.
Since making his debut for Sri Lanka against Australia in 2022, Nuwan Thushara has been a consistent performer for Sri Lanka. In 11 T20 matches since making his debut, Thusara has claimed 19 wickets at an average of 14.57.
The first T20I match of the upcoming series between Sri Lanka and India is set to take place on Saturday in Pallekele.
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Sri Lanka’s updated squad for the T20I series against India
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando
