Chamika Karunaratne and Avishka Fernando return as Sri Lanka announce squad for India tour

Sri Lanka Cricket has named a 20-member squad for the upcoming T20I and ODI series against India, which is set to be played at six different venues across India starting January 3, 2023. Dasun Shanaka will be leading the team, while Chamika Karunaratne, Pramod Madushan, and Dilshan Madushanka are among those returning to the squad.

The two sides will first play a three-match T20I series, followed by as many ODIs. Nuwanidu Fernando has earned his maiden ODI call-up after a string of fine performances in the domestic tournaments, and also the Lanka Premier League. He averages 40.25 in 31 first-class matches, having scored 1771 runs, including six centuries and seven half-centuries.

The Sri Lankan players participated in the Abu Dhabi T10 league and in the recently concluded Lanka Premier League and are in good touch as they set to take on India. Avishka Fernando has recovered from the injury he suffered in Australia and will be back in the squad.

Fernando, a top-order batter, had a memorable outing at the LPL 2022 and will be hoping to repeat similar heroics in the upcoming series too. The in-form Wanindu Hasaranga will lead Sri Lanka’s bowling unit while young spinner Dunith Wellalage and Mahesh Theekshana will be a part of both the white-ball series.

However, Chamika Karunaratne, who was controversially excluded from the team for the series against Afghanistan due to his alleged indisciplined behaviour during the T20 World Cup in Australia, impressed everyone during the LPL while playing for Kandy Falcons and has been called up for both ODI and T20I series. After missing out due to injuries recently, Promod Madushan and Dilshan Madushanka are back in the fold again.

Sri Lanka Squad for India T20Is:

Dasun Shanaka (Captain), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga (VC), Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara

Sri Lanka Squad for India ODIs:

Dasun Shanaka (C), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Kusal Mendis (VC), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ashen Bandara, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamika Karunaratne, Dilshan Madushanka, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara