Chamara Kapugedara ruled out of Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka’s stand-in captain Upul Tharanga was suspended for 2 matches for slow over rate in the first group match against South Africa. (Photo: AFP)

He has so far played 19 ODIs, scoring 420 runs at an average of 23.33. (Photo: AP)

The joy was short lived for the Lankan lions as they were dealt with another heavy blow hours before start of play in London. (Photo: AP)

Middle-order batsman Chamara Kapugedara has been ruled out of not only the India match but the entire Champions Trophy because of a knee injury. (Phot: AP)

Kapugedara, 30, is one of the senior members of the Sri Lankan team, having scored 1551 runs from 98 ODIs. (Photo: AP)

Opening Danushka Gunathilaka has named as his replacement. (Photo: AFP)

Kapugedara copped the injury during a fielding drill on the eve of Sri Lanka’s second Group A game of the tournament, against India at The Oval. (Photo: ICC)

Good news came in Sri Lanka’s way as their captain Angelo Mathews was declared fit to take the field against India but only as a batsman. (Photo: AFP)

Sri Lanka will have to beat overwhelming favourites India to stay alive in the tournament. (Photo: AP)