Wanindu Hasaranga steps down as Sri Lanka captain ahead of T20I series against India

Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has been dealt a blow with the resignation of spin wizard Wanindu Hasaranga as captain. The 26-year-old led the team in 10 matches but has decided to step down following Sri Lanka's disappointing exit from the recent T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and West Indies.

This news comes just before Sri Lanka's upcoming white-ball series against India, set to kick off on July 26th. The two teams will face off in three ODIs and three T20Is. Despite being the 2014 World T20 champions, Sri Lanka's only victory in this year's World Cup was against the Netherlands. They suffered defeats against Bangladesh and South Africa, and a match against Nepal was washed out, leading to their failure to advance to the semi-finals.

National Men’s T20I Captain Wanindu Hasaranga has decided to resign from the captaincy.

READ: https://t.co/WKYh6oLUhk #SriLankaCricket #SLC

— Sri Lanka Cricket  (@OfficialSLC) July 11, 2024

In his resignation letter, as quoted by the ICC, Hasaranga declared: "Sri Lanka will always have my utmost best efforts as a player, and I will support and stand by my team and leadership as always."

The visiting Indian team has undergone a significant change in leadership with the departure of Rahul Dravid after the T20 World Cup 2024. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named Gautam Gambhir as the new coach, ushering in a new era for the team.

Similarly, Chris Silverwood has stepped down as the coach of Sri Lanka following the conclusion of the multi-nation tournament. Sanath Jayasuriya has been appointed to temporarily fill the role, bringing his wealth of experience to guide the team.

Also read| BCCI announces fixtures for Gautam Gambhir's first assignment as Team India head coach