Star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga has resigned as Sri Lanka's T20I captain after the Islanders' dismal show in the recently-concluded T20 World Cup 2024. Sri Lanka's disappointing performance in the T20 World Cup saw them failing to progress beyond the group stage.
Wanindu Hasaranga steps down as Sri Lanka's T20I captain
Hasaranga, a talented leg-spinner and current World no. 1 T20I all-rounder, was appointed T20I captain just last year. He led the team in only 10 matches before stepping down. In his resignation letter, Hasaranga expressed that he is relinquishing the captaincy is in the best interests of the team, allowing him to focus on his bowling and contribute as a player.
“Sri Lanka Cricket wishes to inform the public that National Men’s T20I Captain Wanindu Hasaranga has decided to resign from the captaincy,” Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) said in a statement.
“Hasaranga said it is in the best interest of Sri Lanka Cricket that he decided to relinquish the captaincy duties and remain in the side as a player,” the statement added.
“Sri Lanka Cricket, while accepting his resignation, wishes to state that Hasaranga will remain an important player for us in our international cricketing plans,” SLC's statement further read.
Despite stepping down as captain, Sri Lanka Cricket has assured fans that Wanindu Hasaranga remains a vital member of their national team moving forward. The Asian team will be back in action soon, hosting India in a white-ball series starting on July 26. Sri Lanka has yet to announce their squad or who will take over the captaincy for this upcoming series.
The tour will feature three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and three One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Notably, this series marks the first assignment for India's new head coach, Gautam Gambhir, who takes the reins after Rahul Dravid's tenure. While India's current focus is the ongoing T20I series against Zimbabwe, their World Cup-winning squad is expected to return for most of the Sri Lanka matches.
The Indian team will arrive in Sri Lanka on July 22 and the action kicks off on July 26 with the first T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele. The remaining two T20Is follow on July 27th and 29th at the same venue. Following the T20Is, both teams relocate to Colombo for the ODI series. The R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium will host all three ODIs, starting on August 1st with subsequent matches on August 4th and 7th.
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IND vs SL T20I series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 26 July | 1st T20I | Pallekele |
| 27 July | 2nd T20I | Pallekele |
| 29 July | 3rd T20I | Pallekele |
IND vs SL ODI series schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 1 August | 1st ODI | Colombo |
| 4 August | 2nd ODI | Colombo |
| 7 August | 3rd ODI | Colombo |
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