Mixed fortunes for Sri Lanka as far as injuries are concerned

The second Test between India and Sri Lanka will mark the return of Sri Lankan Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal, who missed the first Test due to a lung infection. Dinesh Chandimal was appointed as the Test captain after all-rounder Angelo Mathews decided to quit the position. Unfortunately, the cricketer fell victim to pneumonia and was ruled out of the first test.

Rangana Herath who acted as the stand-in captain in the first Test picked up an injury during the same. While Herath hopes to be a part of the second Test, he expects Dinesh Chandimal to return as well.

“There’s no confirmation, but I expect him to play the next game,” Herath said.

However, Asela Gunaratne remains a huge setback for the hosts as the batsman has been ruled out for the rest of the series. He will be out of action for a minimum of 6-8 weeks after fracturing his thumb during the first day’s play of the first Test.

Rangana Herath who bowled 9 overs in India’s second inning before picking up an injury remained certain of playing the second Test. He informed that there was no fracture but there is a bit of swelling at the moment.

“We had an x-ray yesterday,” he said. “It doesn’t show any fracture. “But I had a fracture three years ago in the same area and that’s the reason there’s a bit of swelling and soreness. Hopefully, over the next few days, it will get better.”

India’s thumping win by 304 runs against the hosts helped them stretch the gap between them and the second placed team in the ICC Test rankings, South Africa. India, who is currently the number one Test team in the world can enjoy a 15 point lead if results fall according to place. If England beats South Africa in the ongoing Test at Oval, the Proteas will fall 11 points behind the Indians. If India can perform a clean sweep over Sri Lanka the men in blue will see them stretch the gap more.