Coming as a replacement for opener Danushka Gunathilaka who is nursing a shoulder injury, the experienced campaigner Dinesh Chandimal has been eventually ruled out of the ongoing third One-day International at Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Sunday (August 27) after nursing an injury.
The right-handed batsman Chandimal sustained a hairline fracture on his right thumb following a blow from fast bowler Hardik Pandya in the first innings after hosts’ stand-in skipper Chamara Kapugedera won the toss.
“Dinesh Chandimal has suffered a hairline fracture and will not take further part in the game,” the Sri Lanka’s Cricket team manager Asanka Gurusinha was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
Just In: Dinesh Chandimal suffers a hairline fracture after a blow on the hand by Hardik Pandya. Won't take further part. #SLvIND
— Sportzwiki (@sportzwiki) August 27, 2017
The reports suggested Chandimal could even miss the remainder of the matches of ongoing series against India, but the official verdict from Sri Lanka cricket management is yet to come in this regard, as Gurusinha clearly revealed the call on Chandimal’s availability could be taken on August 28 (Monday).
“We will make a call tomorrow whether he can take further part in the series,” Gurusinha added.
The 27-year-old Balapitiya-born batsmen required a medical attention when a ball hit his thumb which further saw him writhing in pain at his personal score of 14.
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The news about @chandi_17 is not good. He has suffered a hair fracture in his thumb. Absolutely sad!
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) August 27, 2017
Gurusinha revealed the same expert will take care of the batsman, who treated Asela Gunaratne, the all-rounder, who fractured his thumb while grasping a catch of opener Shikhar Dhawan in the slip cordon on the very first day of the Galle Test in July this year.
“He [Chandimal] is in pain and he will see a specialist doctor tonight in Colombo, the same doctor, who treated Asela Gunaratne,” Gurusinha maintained.
Pertinently, Chandimal, who was not the part of limited-overs squad was called in as the replacement alongside Lahiru Thirimanne, who returned to the Sri Lankan national fold after one year.
The replacements were announced after skipper Upul Tharanga was banned for slow over rate as Gunathilaka was marred by injury.
Dinesh Chandimal was not even in the original ODI squad. Now he is opening the innings. Sri Lanka experimentation is just so random. #SLvIND
— Chetan Narula (@chetannarula) August 27, 2017
It’s important to point out that the injury-hit Sri Lanka has witnessed a couple of injuries, in the recently concluded three-match Test series which Virat Kohli claimed by 3-0.
Chandimal, who had a cautious start, was dismissed by Hardik Pandya after being caught by Jasprit Bumrah comfortably at the deep square leg.
In his 71-ball knock of 36, Chandimal, who struggled to rotate the strike, smashed four boundaries, as he went on to score at the strike-rate of 50.70.
Later in the night, Chandimal will undergo scans to ascertain the extent of the injury which he picked during the batting in a day-and-night encounter.
Coming to the conclusion, India is chasing down the target of 218 in 50 overs, after unorthodox paceman, Jasprit Bumrah bagged his maiden five-for and eventually his career best of five for 27 in his 10-over quota.