Sri Lanka Vs India 2017: Stand-In Skipper Chamara Kapugedera Suffers Injury In Nets 1

Ahead of the do-or-die third One-Day International against India on Sunday (August 27), Sri Lanka have suffered yet another blow as their stand-in skipper Chamara Kapugedera is now doubtful for the clash after being hit on his arm while batting in the nets. As per reports in Hindustan Times, the right-handed batsman has been taken to hospital for a check-up and an update on the injury is still awaited.

Kapugedera was named the captain of the side after regular skipper Upul Tharanga was handed a two-match ban for Sri Lanka’s slow over-rate during the three-wicket loss in the second ODI at Pallekele.

Losing Kapugedera for the crunch clash will be a huge blow for the Islanders who need to win the match in order to keep the five-match series alive. Moreover, they also need to win two of the remaining three games to ensure a direct qualification for the 2019 World Cup.

Meanwhile, the hosts have recalled Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne in the squad after Tharanga was banned. Chandimal was a surprising omission from the original squad and is expected to take Tharanga’s place at number four in the batting order while Thirimanne, whose last ODI appearance came in January 2016, is likely to provide the much-needed boost to Sri Lanka’s inexperienced batting order.

After losing by 9 wickets in the first ODI, the hosts put up a good fight in the second despite posting a modest total of 236 but eventually ended up on the wrong side of the result. India was cruising at one stage after their openers added more than 100 runs for the first wicket. However, the match turned on its head when Akila Dananjaya took 6 wickets in quick succession to leave the Men in Blue reeling at 131 for 7 from 109 for 0. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Bhuvneshwar Kumar then shared an unbeaten partnership of 100 runs to take India home.