Cricket

India's skipper Rohit Sharma has once again captured the spotlight with his antics on the field. This time, it was not a witty remark caught on the stump mic, but a humorous act that left everyone in stitches.During the second ODI against Sri Lanka in Colombo, Washington Sundar pulled back twice in a row while preparing to bowl a delivery. On the first occasion, Rohit, stationed at first slip, remained composed. However, the second time Sundar pulled back, Rohit jokingly ran towards him as if to hit him.The incident was captured on camera and quickly went viral on social media. Rohit's playful gesture showcased his lighthearted nature and his ability to bring a smile to the faces of his teammates and fans alike.Meanwhile, India's spinners, led by Washington Sundar, put the Sri Lankan batters to the test. Sundar claimed three wickets for 30 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav picked up two for 33. The Lankan batters struggled to cope with the spin duo, who exploited the conditions to their advantage.Sri Lanka's innings was anchored by a 72-run partnership between Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis for the seventh wicket. Wellalage scored 39 runs, while Mendis contributed 40. However, their efforts were not enough to propel Sri Lanka to a competitive total, as they were restricted to 240 for nine.India's bowlers were disciplined throughout the innings, with Mohammed Siraj striking early to remove Pathum Nissanka. Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis provided some resistance, but the spinners eventually took control of the game.The Indian bowlers also struggled in the final five overs, conceding 44 runs. However, they managed to secure a comfortable victory, with Sri Lanka falling short by 43 runs.

Sri Lanka's Jeffrey Vandersay emerged as the hero in the second ODI against India, leading his team to a remarkable 32-run victory in Colombo. Vandersay's exceptional six-wicket haul for just 33 runs dismantled the Indian batting lineup, giving Sri Lanka a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.Chasing a target of 241 on a spin-friendly pitch, India's promising start was quickly extinguished by Vandersay's brilliance. Rohit Sharma's aggressive 64 off 44 balls had set the tone for India, but his dismissal triggered a dramatic collapse.From a comfortable 97 for one, India lost six wickets for just 50 runs in 10 overs. Vandersay, filling in for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga, exploited the conditions and the Indian batsmen's vulnerabilities, claiming the crucial wickets of Shivam Dube, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer.Despite the top-order collapse, Axar Patel attempted a counter-attack with a resilient 44 off 44 balls, but his efforts were cut short by Charith Asalanka.Earlier, Sri Lanka's batting effort had been challenged by India's spinners, particularly Washington Sundar (3/30) and Kuldeep Yadav (2/33). Despite struggling at 136 for six, a crucial 72-run partnership between Dunith Wellalage and Kamindu Mendis provided the hosts with a competitive total of 240 for nine.Vandersay's exceptional performance and Sri Lanka's resilience on a difficult pitch proved too much for India, who were bowled out for 208 in 42.2 overs. The victory gives Sri Lanka a crucial advantage in the series, with the third and final ODI scheduled for Tuesday.

Wanindu Hasaranga Ruled Out of ODI Series Against India with Hamstring InjurySri Lanka's all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the remaining two matches of the three-match ODI series against India due to a hamstring injury. The injury occurred during the first ODI, which ended in a thrilling tie.Hasaranga sustained the injury while bowling the final ball of his 10th over. He was seen clutching his left hamstring in discomfort and was unable to continue bowling. An MRI scan later confirmed the injury.The loss of Hasaranga is a significant blow to Sri Lanka's bowling attack. He is one of the team's most experienced and reliable bowlers, and his absence will be felt.To fill the void left by Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay has been called up to the Sri Lankan squad. Vandersay, 34, has played 22 ODIs for Sri Lanka, with his last appearance coming in January this year against Zimbabwe.The second ODI between Sri Lanka and India will be played on Sunday at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The third and final ODI will be played at the same venue on August 7.

Sri Lanka's women's cricket team has added wicketkeeper Kaushini Nuthyangana to its 16-member squad for the upcoming tour of Ireland. Nuthyangana, who has yet to make her ODI debut, will serve as backup to regular wicketkeeper Anushka Sanjeewani.The squad, which lifted the Women's Asia Cup last week, will be without talismanic skipper Chamari Athapaththu for the T20Is on August 11 and 13 due to her commitments with the Oval Invincibles in the Women's Hundred. Athapaththu, who was named Player of the Tournament in the Asia Cup, will join the team for the ODIs, which are part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women's Championship cycle, starting August 16.In Athapaththu's absence, Harshitha Samarawickrama, who was the last designated vice-captain, could lead the team. The batting burden will fall on the shoulders of 18-year-old Vishmi Gunaratne, who has the fifth-most runs in women's T20Is in 2024, and Samarawickrama. Spin-bowling allrounder Kavisha Dilhari has also shown consistency with the bat.However, there is some uncertainty in the batting lineup below these three players, although Hasini Perera, Nilakshika Silva, and Sanjeewani have all produced exciting cameos in the past year. Nuthyangana is likely to get game time as Sri Lanka does not have another batting replacement for Athapaththu in the squad.The bowling options include four frontline spinners and three seamers.

Dunith Wellalage, a rising star in Sri Lankan cricket, showcased his exceptional all-round abilities in the first ODI against India at Khettarama. Batting at number seven, the 21-year-old played a crucial innings of 67 not out off 65 deliveries, guiding Sri Lanka to a respectable total of 230 for 8.Wellalage's innings was a beacon of composure on a challenging pitch where no other batter looked entirely settled. He displayed a wide range of shots, including powerful boundaries, and drew inspiration from his teammate Pathum Nissanka, who has been in impressive form throughout the tour."I was watching Pathum Nissanka bat quite a lot," Wellalage said. "I put his batting in my mind as I came up with a plan. If you take the pitch, it was one that supported spin bowling. I tried to put as much pressure on the bowler and build partnerships."With the ball, Wellalage proved equally effective, claiming two crucial wickets for 39 runs in nine overs. He dismissed India's top scorer, Rohit Sharma, with a well-flighted delivery that beat the batsman in flight and struck him in front of the stumps.Wellalage's dismissal of Shubman Gill was equally impressive, as he deceived the opener with another flighted delivery that Gill top-edged to the keeper."We knew that the wicket was spinning," Wellalage explained. "So Charith Asalanka had told me that I would be bowling in the powerplay. I had good support from the wicket too.""With Rohit at the time, I was trying just to bowl wicket-to-wicket, because I knew how much assistance there was from the pitch."Wellalage's contributions with both bat and ball played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka's ability to tie the match. His performance is a testament to his growing maturity and versatility as a cricketer.

Sanath Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka's interim coach, is urging his team to harness the criticism they have faced after their T20I series loss to India and turn things around in the upcoming 50-over leg of the tour."I remind them that I have been in their shoes during my 20-year playing career," Jayasuriya said ahead of the first ODI in Colombo. "Many of you are just starting out. You must embrace this criticism and respond with strong performances. If you play well, the fans will adore you. Their words stem from the pain they feel, which is temporary."Jayasuriya emphasized that the Sri Lankan team is putting in "tremendous effort" in training, and the batting collapses they experienced in all three T20Is were simply due to a lack of execution. In the third T20I, they lost 7 for 27, allowing India to force a Super Over despite the hosts being well on their way to chasing down 138. In the first T20I, they lost 9 for 30 after setting themselves up for victory at 140 for 1 in 14 overs while chasing 214.Jayasuriya believes that the meltdowns were not caused by a lack of skill or commitment but rather by a need to improve their "cricket awareness." He explained that they have implemented a system where top-order batters can bat for extended periods during training."We have created a system where top-order batters could bat for two or three hours during training," he said. "Kamindu Mendis batted for more than 600 balls during our training. Kusal Perera batted for over 700 balls, which is a significant number of overs.""I don't see a lack of commitment, but they have got to tackle pressure better. Their cricket awareness also needs sharpening. We are taking the responsibility; you can't go away from that. As long as they realize that, and make sure that, we'll have to keep giving them the confidence and support."Jayasuriya elaborated on the "cricket awareness" aspect by citing how it was acceptable to not be a six-hitting team."When you talk about power hitting, I don't think you need that much," Jayasuriya said. "If you hit enough fours and enough twos, you get the total that you need. The [Sri Lankan] grounds are a little bigger. There's no reason why you can't hit boundaries, or twos, or threes. If you can do that, you can get by without hitting so many sixes."Jayasuriya also backed new captain Charith Asalanka to come good, while underlining the importance of giving him time to settle into the new role before being judged. Since his debut in 2021, Asalanka has risen to become one of Sri Lanka's more consistent ODI batters, averaging 43.59 with a strike rate of almost 90 across 52 innings."Charith Asalanka is one of our best players in this format, and we need to remember that," Jayasuriya said. "But when you get the captaincy, there is some pressure. I've been there too. You have got to give them a little time in that position.""There are ten more players in the side, and 16 in the squad. We all have to get together and give him the confidence too. At any moment, the captain could click. Charith Asalanka is someone who works really hard. He's very professional and communicates well."The Sri Lanka players have been hit by injuries and illnesses in the lead-up to the ODI series. The list is rather long - Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, and Nuwan Thushara are all unavailable."We have brought Pramod Madushan into our squad," Jayasuriya said. "There's also a viral flu in the team and we need to account for that. Maheesh Theekshana was sick and he recovered enough to play. Wanindu Hasaranga also had it. There were several who caught it and in the end, we even had to admit Binura Fernando to the hospital."The absence of key players, though, is not something Jayasuriya wants to use as an excuse. He insists there's plenty to play for and has spoken to players individually about placing an emphasis on being "mentally in the right place.""I'm interim coach and I've only got these two series, but that's not how I think," he said. "When I was playing, and even now, I hate to lose. The players who are around now know that too. When I talk to them, I tell them that fans in this country love the game, and a lot of us, including me, have brought cricket into this country to a certain place.""I've spoken about that a lot individually with players and as a team. In terms of facilities and practice, I've tried to do as much as I can. What I want is to create a good environment so they can be mentally in the right place and can play with confidence."

Sri Lanka's triumphant women's cricket team, fresh from their Asia Cup victory, will embark on a historic tour of Ireland from August 11-20. This will mark Sri Lanka's maiden bilateral tour of Ireland and Ireland's first home series of the year.The tour will feature two T20Is and three ODIs, with the first T20I scheduled for August 11 in Dublin. The second T20I will also be played in Dublin on August 13, followed by the ODI series in Belfast. The ODIs will be part of the 2022-2025 ICC Women's Championship cycle.Sri Lanka has enjoyed a remarkable run of form in 2024, winning 18 of their 23 white-ball matches. They also boast an unblemished record against Ireland, having won all six previous encounters. However, Ireland has yet to lose a bilateral series this year, making this tour a significant test for both teams.The tour will provide a valuable opportunity for both sides to prepare for the upcoming ICC Women's T20 World Cup in February 2023. Sri Lanka will be eager to continue their winning ways, while Ireland will be determined to prove their mettle against a top-ranked opponent.The full schedule of Sri Lanka's tour of Ireland 2024 is as follows:* August 11: 1st T20I, Dublin* August 13: 2nd T20I, Dublin* August 16: 1st ODI, Belfast* August 18: 2nd ODI, Belfast* August 20: 3rd ODI, Belfast

Sri Lanka's ODI squad against India has been further depleted by injuries, with fast bowlers Matheesha Pathirana and Dilshan Madushanka ruled out. The duo joins Dushmantha Chameera and Nuwan Thushara on the sidelines, leaving the hosts with a depleted bowling attack.Pathirana, who impressed in the recent T20 World Cup, suffered a shoulder complaint while fielding in the third T20I against India. The injury is a recurrence of the issue that plagued him during last year's World Cup, prompting the team management to err on the side of caution.Madushanka, on the other hand, sustained a hamstring injury during training. He played only one match in the T20I series, but was expected to feature in the ODI squad.Sri Lanka have called up uncapped right-arm seamer Mohamed Shiraz as a replacement for Pathirana. The team is also expected to announce the inclusion of another seamer later on Thursday.The injuries have come as a major blow to Sri Lanka, who have lost their last 10 matches across formats against India. The hosts will be desperate to break their losing streak in the upcoming ODI series, but they will need to find a way to compensate for the absence of their key bowlers.

The Sri Lankan cricket team has announced a 16-member squad for the upcoming three-match One Day International (ODI) series against India, set to commence on August 2. This squad, approved by Harin Fernando, the Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, will take on India at the Premadasa Stadium, with subsequent matches scheduled for August 4 and 7.Among the selected players, senior all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne, alongside young batsmen Janith Liyanage and Nishan Madushka, has been called up to represent the national team in this series.Chamika Karunaratne, known for his versatility and experience, brings a wealth of skill to the team, potentially offering both batting and bowling solutions. On the other hand, Janith Liyanage and Nishan Madushka, despite being relatively new to the international scene, have shown promise in their previous outings. Liyanage has appeared in nine ODIs, while Madushka has participated in eight Tests, indicating their growing experience at the international level.The squad for the series is led by Charith Asalanka, with Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, and Sadeera Samarawickrama being notable inclusions, suggesting a blend of youth and experience. The team also features all-rounders such as Wanindu Hasaranga and Kamindu Mendis, who are expected to play crucial roles with both bat and ball.The bowling department includes Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Dilshan Madushanka, Matheesha Pathirana, and Asitha Fernando, offering a mix of spin and pace options.The inclusion of Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, and Nishan Madushka in the squad highlights the selectors' confidence in their abilities to perform at the highest level.