Retirement from Test matches at a young age of 26
While Hasaranga has been exceptional in white-ball cricket, currently ranking as the No.3 T20I bowler, he hasn’t been able to make the same impact in Tests.
In another sign of the changing landscape of cricket, Sri Lanka’s talented spinner, Wanindu Hasaranga, has announced his retirement from Test cricket at just 26 years old. Hasaranga will now focus on being a specialist in limited-overs formats. Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed the news, stating that Hasaranga made this decision to extend his career and excel in shorter-format matches. While this retirement might seem surprising at first glance, deeper reflection reveals a different perspective. ###
Despite his success in white-ball cricket, especially as the current No. 3 ranked T20I bowler, Hasaranga’s performance in Test cricket has been less impactful. Though it’s important to note that four Tests is a limited sample size, his four wickets at an average of 100.75 prevented him from playing Test cricket for Sri Lanka for over two years. His last Test match was against Bangladesh at home in April 2021, and despite being part of various Test preparatory camps, he hasn’t made it into the main squad in the past two years.
The Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) officially announced that Wanindu Hasaranga has made the decision to retire from Test cricket. The press release stated that Hasaranga aims to concentrate on and further enhance his skills in limited-overs cricket. Having debuted for Sri Lanka’s Test team in December 2020, he played four matches before concluding his journey in this format of the game in August 2021. Although his time in Test cricket was brief, it left a lasting impact on fans and followers.
The CEO of the SLC, Ashley De Silva, expressed the organization’s full support for Hasaranga’s decision to retire from Test cricket. In an official statement, De Silva stated that while they were saddened by his departure from the Test arena, they have complete confidence in Hasaranga’s ongoing contribution to their white-ball cricket program.
While his test career might be over, Hasaranga continues to shine in Sri Lanka’s white-ball cricket. Known for his skills as a lower-order batsman and expert spin bowler, he consistently makes a significant impact on the game.
Hasaranga not in Sri Lanka’s Test cricket plans
It was clear that Hasaranga wasn’t part of Sri Lanka’s plans for test cricket, at least for now. However, as a leg-spinner who can also contribute with the bat, he had the opportunity to change that. His decision to prioritize his white-ball career instead of pursuing the traditional route highlights the mindset of aspiring cricketers, especially those looking to participate in various T20 leagues.
Hasaranga, who regularly plays for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, had to withdraw from Major League Cricket in the USA because he was selected for a training camp with Test cricketers. Similar to other players like England’s Moeen Ali, he made the decision to prioritize his availability for T20 leagues happening throughout the year and said goodbye to Test cricket.
The fact that the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) board did not intervene in Thisara Perera’s decision to retire early is also a sign that cricket boards are accepting the evolving dynamics of the sport. “We respect his decision and believe Wanindu Hasaranga will continue to play a crucial role in our white-ball program,” said Ashley De Silva, CEO of Sri Lanka Cricket.
Hasaranga, who has played 48 One Day Internationals (ODIs) and 58 Twenty20 International (T20I) matches for Sri Lanka, has been a valuable asset to the team. He has taken a total of 158 wickets and scored 1,365 runs. Moving forward, Hasaranga will continue to be an
He played a crucial role in helping Sri Lanka secure qualification for the ICC World Cup 2023. He emerged as the top wicket-taker of the tournament, contributing significantly to their victory in the Zimbabwe Qualifier with 22 scalps.
