Sri Lanka has announced a new captain for their T20 team as star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga steps down ahead of the home series against India. The Indian team is set to visit Sri Lanka for a three-match T20 and ODI series starting on July 27.
The Sri Lankan cricket board has named Charith Asalanka as the new T20 captain. Asalanka, who was Hasaranga’s deputy during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the Caribbean, also led the team in a short T20 series against Bangladesh, securing a win in the two-match series.
Hasaranga’s tenure as captain included six wins out of ten matches, including their World Cup campaign. He will continue to contribute as a player, with Asalanka now assuming the leadership role. “Sri Lanka will always have my utmost best efforts as a player, and I will support and stand by my team and leadership as always,” Hasaranga stated in his resignation letter to Sri Lanka Cricket.
India has also seen a leadership change with Rohit Sharma retiring from T20Is and Suryakumar Yadav being named the new captain. The upcoming T20I series will be a keenly watched contest between the two new captains, both eager to start their tenures with a win.
The T20I series will kick off on July 27, with subsequent matches on July 28 and July 30. All games will be held at Pallekele International Stadium, starting at 7 PM IST.
Sri Lanka’s squad for the T20I series against India:
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando.
India’s squad for the T20I series against Sri Lanka:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Rinku Singh, Riyan Parag, Rishabh Pant (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Siraj.
