Dinesh Chandimal dropped for the ODI series against India

Dinesh Chandimal, the Test captain of Sri Lanka, has been dropped from the ODI squad for the three-match series against India. Both the teams are currently involved in the third and final Test match which is being played in Delhi at Ferozshah Kotla Stadium. However, Asela Gunaratne and Danushka Gunathilaka have returned to the side which will look to arrest their slump in One-Day Internationals in 2017.

Chandimal is the highest run-getter for Sri Lanka in the ongoing Test series against India but his recent run of form in the limited overs format has been poor. He has scored only 255 runs in 15 innings this year at a mediocre average of 18.21. The loss of form is surprising as he was the leading run-scorer in the ODI format last year for his country with 656 runs at 59.63 with six half-centuries and a couple of centuries.

Thisara Perera to lead

Thisara Perera was appointed the leader of the limited overs side earlier this week replacing Upul Tharanga who failed to change the fortunes of the team after Angelo Mathews stepped down from the position. Though the squad is yet to be officially declared, the news of Dinesh Chandimal being dropped made the rounds according to Sri Lanka’s Sunday Times. Also, the opening batsman Danushka Gunathilaka and the talented all-rounder Asela Gunaratne also made their comeback.

While the former was suspended for six matches by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) after pleading guilty to misconduct, the latter was injured. The side is surely going to be bolstered with the inclusion of these two players as the team will look to start the series on a positive note. The first of the three-match ODI series will commence on December 10 in Dharamsala. The ongoing Test series hasn’t helped the cause of the visitors either as Indians have literally dominated them courtesy their skipper.