26-Year-Old Sri Lankan Star Announces Retirement From Test Cricket

All-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga announced his retirement from Test cricket as he wishes to prolong his career as a limited-overs specialist.

Wanindu Hasaranga of Sri Lanka celebrates with the ICC Men´s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Trophy.

Sri Lankan cricket team all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga shocked the cricket fraternity around the world by suddenly announcing his retirement from Test cricket. He informed about his move by sending a letter to the Sri Lanka Cricket Board. As per an official media release, Wanindu Hasaranga has taken this step to prolong his career as a limited-overs specialist. The spin all-rounder has played four test matches for Sri Lanka, 48 one-day internationals and 58 T20I games. He plays for Virat Kohli-starrer Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

He made his Test debut for Sri Lanka in December 2020 against South Africa in Centurion and played his last game in whites for his national team in April 2021 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. In his Test career (2020-21), Hasaranga played four matches, scored 196 runs in seven innings with one fifty and picked four wickets. He was the 2nd-highest wicket-taker (nine wickets in six matches) in 2022 Asia Cup - the edition which Sri Lanka won.

“We will accept his decision and are confident that Hasaranga will be a vital part of our white-ball program going forward,” said Mr. Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.

Sri Lanka Men’s all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has informed Sri Lanka Cricket that he will retire from playing test cricket. -
READ: https://t.co/cPV4jbzHeZ #SLC

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 15, 2023

A look at Wanindu Hasaranga's career for Sri Lanka in white-ball cricket 

Wanindu Hasaranga made his debut for Sri Lanka in 2017. Since then, the star spin all-rounder has played 48 ODIs and 58 T20s in white ball cricket for the national team. In ODIs, Hasaranga has so far taken 67 wickets, bowling at an economy of 5.07, and has scored 832 runs in the format with help of 4 half-centuries.

In the shortest format (T20Is), Hasaranga has so far picked 91 wickets in 58 T20Is at an economy of 6.89. With the bat, he has so far scored 533 runs with one half-century to his name.