Chandimal fractures thumb, in doubt for India series

Dinesh Chandimal’s has been ruled out of the India series by the hairline fracture he sustained after being hit on the right thumb while batting in Pallekele.

He had been on 25 when a Hardik Pandya bouncer caught him on the glove, as he attempted to work the ball towards the legside. Chandimal batted on, eventually making 36 off 71 deliveries, but had been unwilling to take on the short ball after receiving that blow. He will now consult a specialist in Colombo, before the timeline for recovery is determined, an SLC statement said.

This is just the latest in a spate of bad luck that has set Sri Lanka back during India’s tour. They had already lost Asela Gunaratne and Nuwan Pradeep due to injury and had to do without Rangana Herath in the third Test.

Chandimal is the second batsman to pick up an on-field injury during the ODIs, with Danushka Gunathilaka already having been ruled out of the third one-dayer with a shoulder strain. In fact, Gunathilaka was the player Chandimal replaced in the XI, when he opened the batting on Sunday.

This is also Chandimal’s second finger injury in the past year – he had missed Sri Lanka’s tour of Zimbabwe in October and November due to a more serious break.