![Dinesh Chandimal with injury [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787142773433_DineshChandimalwithinjury.jpg?type=hq)
Dinesh Chandimal with injury [Source: AFP]
Major blows struck Sri Lanka after they suffered their first defeat in the two-match Test series against India on August 19, with the Men in Blue defeating the hosts by 165 runs at Galle on Day 5 of the match.
As per the latest developments, two important members of the Sri Lankan cricket team could be unavailable for the second Test in Colombo, with Dinesh Chandimal officially ruled out.
Dinesh Chandimal Ruled Out of the Second Test
Chandimal last played a Test match against the West Indies in July, where he averaged 42.25 with the bat across the two-match Test series. Following his performances, he was included in Sri Lanka's squad for the series against India.
However, he injured himself while fielding on Day 4 of the first Test at Galle. Chandimal hurt himself on the leg-side boundary while attempting to save a ball. He landed heavily on his shoulder after leaping for a dive.
Although Sri Lanka Cricket initially mentioned that he had no signs of an internal injury, a concussion replacement was announced towards the end of the second session on Day 4, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara coming in as his replacement and making his Test debut.
Why Is Chandimal Not Playing the Second Test Vs India?
Dinesh Chandimal is automatically ruled out of the second Test against India because ICC rules mandate that players substituted for concussion-related reasons cannot play for the next seven days. His replacement therefore means that he will miss the upcoming Test in Colombo on August 23.
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For the uninitiated, Chandimal sprinted across from deep midwicket towards deep square leg to intercept a shot from KL Rahul on Day 4 of the first Test. Although he saved two runs in the process, he tumbled legs over torso, with his neck and shoulder also contorting during the fall. This ultimately led to him being replaced as a concussion substitute, despite the injury not initially appearing to be particularly serious.
"Dinesh Chandimal is also not available for the next Test. So we're missing a few guys from that perspective, but it creates a good opportunity for young players to come in and stake their claim. There are players who have got really good first-class records in this country. It's a good opportunity for them," Sri Lanka coach Gary Kirsten said later.
Pathum Nissanka Still Recovering From Injury; Unlikely To Play
Pathum Nissanka, another talented Test batting prospect for Sri Lanka, missed the first Test and is still working towards making a return to the longer format for the second Test after undergoing wrist surgery in June.
Nissanka is currently recovering from the procedure. Although, according to reports, he is understood to be closer to match fitness than some of Sri Lanka's other injured players, he is still experiencing discomfort while batting in the nets.
Pathum Nissanka’s wrist surgery had been long overdue, with persistent wrist pain worsening during the Test series against the West Indies and forcing him to withdraw from the remainder of the tour after playing the 1st Test.
The cricketer opted to address the issue immediately and underwent surgery on July 3. He was reportedly expected to be sidelined from cricket for four to six weeks. With the next Test scheduled for August 23, Nissanka could potentially make a comeback, but he remains highly unlikely to feature in the playing XI.
How Will Chandimal and Nissanka's Absences Impact Sri Lanka's Playing XI?
Dinesh Chandimal was effectively replaced by Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who failed to make an impact and was dismissed for a duck in Sri Lanka's first innings of the Test. However, he is very likely to retain his place in the playing XI for the second Test.
Meanwhile, Pathum Nissanka's absence at the top of the order was covered by Lahiru Udara, who also failed to impress, scoring just 43 runs across his two innings at an average of 21.50. Whether the management would like to stick to the same XI or give fresh chances to youngsters will be interesting to observe.
Meanwhile, although replacements have already been brought into the squad by SLC, other injury concerns, such as that of Kusal Mendis, could further add to Sri Lanka's problems as the team management looks for solutions ahead of the second Test in Colombo.
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