‘Tells us about the aspirations of young cricketers these days’ – Harsha Bhogle remarks on Wanindu Hasaranga’s baffling Test retirement call

At the age of 26, Sri Lanka star spinner Wanindu Hasaranga made a shock announcement regarding his retirement from Test cricket in order to be available for more franchise cricket competitions. In the same vein, one of the most prominent figures in the cricketing fraternity, commentator and analyst, Harsha Bhogle, provided his take on Hasaranga’s sudden retirement from the longest format. 

It is no secret that franchise cricket is slowly taking over the front seat in world cricket as it provides lucrative offers as compared with the red-ball format. Though Test cricket will remain at the pinnacle for avid cricket followers, certain players, however, have decided to opt out of the format and instead play franchise cricket.

On that note, Bhogle took to his social media handle and voiced his stance on Hasaranga’s shock retirement call and how young cricketers are preferring franchise cricket over Tests.

That as fine a player as Wanindu Hasaranga chooses to turn his back on test cricket at 26 tells us a thing or two about the aspirations of young cricketers these days. As indeed it does about the opportunities they see for themselves in test cricket.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 15, 2023

“That as fine a player as Wanindu Hasaranga chooses to turn his back on test cricket at 26 tells us a thing or two about the aspirations of young cricketers these days. As indeed it does about the opportunities, they see for themselves in test cricket,” Bhogle captioned on his ‘X’ handle.

Hasarange had short stint in Test cricket for Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga made a mere four appearances in Test cricket for the Lankan Lions and failed to make his mark in the format. With just four scalps in his four outings, Hasaranga was often confined to the sidelines and has decided to call time on his Test career in order to prolong his career as a limited-overs specialist.

Notably, the star Lankan spinner is currently plying his trade for Lanka Premier League (LPL) side, B-Love Kandy. In addition to this, he is the third-highest wicket-taker in the ongoing edition after eight matches with 11 scalps in his account.

Hasaranga will later join the national team for the crucial Asia Cup 2023, which is scheduled to begin on August 30. The Lankan Lions play their first match against Bangladesh at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on August 31.