Reports: Four IPL franchises lining up Wanindu Hasaranga as replacement for IPL 2021 UAE leg

The ongoing limited-overs series between Sri Lanka and India has certainly raised the stocks of the leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga. He has not only impressed the experts with his variations in the bowling, but has grabbed the eyeballs with his excellent batting as well. He was the best player for Sri Lanka on the hapless England tour as well scoring runs with the bat and also picking up wickets with his bowling.

As far as the ongoing series is concerned, his fighting spirit is being lauded by many. He accounted for three wickets in two ODIs and has picked same number of wickets in as many T20Is so far. Moreover, his batting skills in the second T20I has also impressed many.

The fighting spirit which he has shown in trying times for Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is certainly laudable and clearly, this might help him in grabbing the much-awaited the Indian Premier League (IPL) contract. Rather if the reports are to be believed, as many as four IPL franchises have lined Wanindu Hasaranga up as a replacement pick ahead of the second leg which is set to commence on September 19.

It is very much likely that a lot of overseas players will pull out of the IPL second leg with England cricketers unlikely to be available. This opens up a lot of slots and Hasaranga comes up as a really good option for the teams given his all-round skills.

Muttiah Muralitharan believes Hasaranga can get a chance in IPL

Even the former Sri Lanka cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan is impressed with Wanindu Hasranga. While he was confident that the leggie will get picked by an IPL team, the legendary cricketer raised concerns over him getting some game time as only four overseas slots are available.

“An IPL franchise should look at him. But the problem is, if it’s a local player, he walks into the side. But if it’s a foreign player, you have to see which franchise wants a foreign spinner. It’s a tricky thing. They will buy him [Hasaranga] but playing him is something that will not be easy for a franchise. Some franchises look mostly at Indian spinners rather than foreign spinners,” Murali said while speaking to ESPNCricinfo.