“Hemantha’s arrival brings hope of maintaining balance despite the setback.”
Sri Lanka have added Dushan Hemantha to their T20 World Cup squad as a replacement for Wanindu Hasaranga, who was ruled out due to a serious hamstring injury. Hasaranga suffered the injury during Sri Lanka’s opening match against Ireland, and an MRI scan confirmed he will miss the rest of the tournament.
The ICC Event Technical Committee approved Hemantha’s inclusion, allowing him to join the squad officially. Hemantha is a spin‑bowling all-rounder who has already represented Sri Lanka in a few T20Is and ODIs. Known for his ability to contribute with both bat and ball, he offers flexibility to the team’s lineup.
With Hasaranga unavailable, Sri Lanka will rely on Hemantha to strengthen their spin options and provide batting depth lower down the order. The team now looks to him to step up in the coming matches, starting with their next group game against Oman.
Hasaranga’s absence is a major setback, as he was a key bowler and one of the team’s most reliable performers in T20 cricket. However, Hemantha’s inclusion gives Sri Lanka a chance to adapt and maintain balance, and fans will be watching closely to see if he can make an immediate impact in the tournament.