IPL 2024: Sunrisers Hyderabad announce Wanindu Hasaranga's replacement
Sri Lanka's T20I captain is missing the competition due to chronic pain in his left foot
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have signed young Sri Lankan leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as a replacement for the experienced Wanindu Hasaranga, who has been ruled out for the remainder of IPL 2024.
Hasaranga, who was poised to make his debut for SRH in the IPL after being acquired by the 2016 champions for INR1.5 crore at the player auction last December, had his aspirations dashed due to chronic pain in his left foot, ruling him out of any involvement with his new franchise this season.
Previously, Hasaranga had represented RCB in two seasons, having been acquired for a staggering Rs 10.75 crore at the 2022 player auction. Despite a stellar debut season with RCB where he claimed 26 wickets, he played a limited role last year before being released.
Vijayakanth, also a leg-spinner from Sri Lanka, has only featured in one T20I for his country thus far. He joins SRH at his base price of INR 50 lakh.
Hasaranga has been advised by an expert to rest and heal his left ankle after sustaining an injury during Sri Lanka’s last white-ball series against Bangladesh in March.
"I believe so," Hasaranga’s manager, Shyam, told Cricbuzz. "Sri Lanka Cricket has written to the BCCI informing them about his unavailability. He went to Dubai for medical advice and stayed there for three days. Given the current situation, the expert's advice is that he should rest rather than participate in the IPL this season."
Earlier in March, Hasaranga was handed a two-match ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) after racking up eight demerit points for breaching ICC’s code of conduct for players during the third ODI against Bangladesh.
Right after the suspension, the all-rounder came out of Test retirement which meant he would miss Sri Lanka’s Test matches. Had he not taken the retirement back, he would have missed Sri Lanka’s group matches at the 2024 T20 World Cup.
