Wanindu Hasaranga’s IPL debut for SRH was delayed due to heel pain, prompting him to seek further medical consultation overseas.
Sri Lankan star Wanindu Hasaranga’s debut for his new IPL team, Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), is set to be delayed due to an injury to his leg.
Hasaranga, who recently came out of retirement from Test cricket, was already unavailable for the ongoing Tests against Bangladesh due to a four-match suspension for breaching the ICC’s code of conduct. While the suspension would not have impacted his initial IPL matches, a separate injury concern emerged.
According to ESPNcricinfo, the cricketer reported chronic pain in his left heel after the limited over series in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Cricket’s medical team suspected that the pain originated from wear and tear in his left heel’s musculoskeletal system. Therefore, Hasaranga has been advised to seek further medical consultation overseas to determine the exact nature of the injury and the best course of treatment. He is expected to travel out of Sri Lanka next week for this purpose.
Though Hasaranga is expected to return after a week, if the injury requires additional rest, treatment, or rehabilitation, his return to the IPL could be pushed back further. This is a significant blow for SRH, which acquired Hasaranga for a hefty Rs 1.5 crore at the latest auction.
Although the talented leg spinner had a stellar IPL season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2022, bagging 26 wickets with an impressive economy rate of 7.54, he is yet to join the SRH squad to add to his stats. Notably, the injury might cause a further delay as Hasaranga will now be more focused on the T20 World Cup, where he will be captaining his national team.
With Hasaranga’s absence, SRH will have to find an alternative for their spin attack in the initial stages of the IPL. Pat Cummins and Co. will next face the Mumbai Indians on March 27th.
Last Updated on March 27, 2024