Dimuth Karunaratne to Bid Farewell in Galle
Dimuth Karunaratne announced his retirement from Test cricket, confirming the second Test against Australia in Galle as his final match.
Former Sri Lankan Test captain Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from Test cricket after playing his 100th match against Australia in Galle this week. His decision comes as Sri Lanka faces a limited Test schedule in the coming years, alongside his recent struggles with form.
The 36-year-old opener revealed that three key factors influenced his decision. With Sri Lanka scheduled to play only two more Tests until May 2026, opportunities for long-format specialists like him are scarce. Additionally, Karunaratne has struggled for runs over the past 14 months, averaging 27.05 since the start of 2024. This match also marks Sri Lanka’s final Test of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
“It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next WTC cycle. Plus, this match was in Galle, where I made my debut, so it will be nice to finish things there,” Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. Notably, Karunaratne informed Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) of his decision after the conclusion of the first Test against Australia.
Karunaratne made his Test debut in November 2012 at Galle against New Zealand—the same venue where he will now play his final match. Although he was dropped briefly in 2014, he returned later that year and scored his maiden Test century. Over the years, he became a consistent performer and a senior figure in the Sri Lankan team.
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Across his 12-year Test career, he has been Sri Lanka’s most prolific opener, amassing 7,079 runs at an average of 39.99. He will become only the seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to reach the 100-Test milestone, joining legends like Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Angelo Mathews.
Now based in Melbourne, Karunaratne plans to pursue a coaching career after taking a break. “I’ll take a bit of a break for myself after spending so many years playing cricket. But eventually, I’d like to get involved again,” remarked Karunaratne.
Last Updated on February 4, 2025
