Chamara Kapugedara, Sri Lanka’s middle-order batsman, is ruled out of the rest of the Champions Trophy with a knee injury, on Wednesday (June 7). Danushka Gunathilaka, the 26-year-old opener, has been called in as his replacement for the remainder of the tournament.
Kapugedera had sustained the injury during a training session before their crucial game against India at The Oval. Angelo Mathews, who himself is battling with a calf problem and missed Sri Lanka’s opening game against South Africa, said,
“Kapugedera got injured at training, so we sent him for an MRI scan. We are waiting for the doctor’s report. If need be, we might have to bring in a replacement.”
He hadn’t played a single ODI for more than two years before he was recalled for the Champions Trophy. However, he was dismissed for a duck in the game against South Africa.
Gunathilaka, his replacement was a part of the recently concluded three-match ODI series against Bangladesh but scored only 43 runs in three games at an average of 14.33. He was one of Sri Lanka’s standby players for the Champions Trophy tournament.
Mathews said that their batting let them down badly after they failed to play good cricket. He said that their next clash against India is a must win for them.