Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga, one of the biggest steals of the IPL 2024 auctions, could miss the entirety of IPL 2024 due to a heel issue, according to reports in the Sri Lankan media.
Hasaranga was picked by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for his base price of Rs 1.5 crore. He was in the auction pool after being released by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru franchise, who had purchased him for Rs 10.75 crore in 2022.
Hasaranga is Sri Lanka’s T20 skipper and a vital player for the team heading into the T20 World Cup later this year.
Hasaranga recently played in Sri Lanka’s white-ball series against Bangladesh. However, a report on ESPNcricinfo stated that he played through substantial amount of pain on his left heel.
Now, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) CEO Ashley de Silva has thrown his participation in IPL 2024 under doubt.
“He is not taking part in the IPL as he needs to do some rehabilitation after meeting the podiatrist,” SLC CEO de Silva was quoted as saying by The Sunday Times in Sri Lanka.
Wanindu Hasaranga playing on injections
De Silva revealed that Hasaranga is scheduled to travel to Dubai to meet with a podiatrist, a move that was recommended by SLC’s physiotherapy department as the player looks to manage the pain on his troubled heel.
“There’s a swelling in the heel and he has been playing with injections. So he has decided to get this issue sorted out before the World Cup and informed us of his decision to skip the IPL this year,” de Silva added.
At just the age of 26, the all-rounder has become irreplaceable for the national team. He missed the Cricket World Cup in India last year, due to injury.
SRH have started the IPL 2024 season well, bouncing back from defeat in their IPL opener to Kolkata Knight Riders by just four runs by trouncing the Mumbai Indians by 31 runs.
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