Wanindu Hasaranga, just like his predecessors, was not the captain of the T20I team for very long as he led the side in just 10 matches. In those matches, he led the side to victories in 6 matches and he lost 4 matches as captain. Sri Lanka lost to South Africa and Bangladesh in the first round of the T20 World Cup, which led to them facing a group-stage exit.
This happened after the champion all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga stepped down from his role after the poor campaign of the Lankan Lions under his leadership in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The Charith Asalanka-led Sri Lanka National Cricket Team locked horns with the Suryakumar Yadav-led India National Cricket Team in the first T20I of the three-match series at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday, July 27 after taking reigns from Wanindu Hasaranga.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s poor performance in first two T20Is vs India.
Talking about the first T20I between India and Sri Lanka, the hosts won the toss and chose to bowl first. After being decimated in the first 10 overs, the bowlers made a strong comeback to restrict the opposition to 213/7. Matheesha Pathirana emerged as the top wicket-taker in the innings as he bagged a 4-wicket haul.
When it came to run-chase, Sri Lanka were off to a flyer, thanks to Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. However, once they got out things went downhill for hosts. They went from 140/1 to 170/10, losing the match by 43 runs. Sri Lanka’s star allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga was showered with trolls and anger after his poor performance against India in the second T20I at Pallekele. Wanindu Hasaranga had a poor day at the office with both bat and ball on Sunday (July 28).
The star allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga came in to bat at no. 7 in the 17th over of the Sri Lanka’s innings. Sri Lanka needed a big finish from Hasaranga but he played a reckless shot in his first ball to be dismissed off a googly. Despite losing Dasun Shanaka off the previous ball, Hasaranga did not bother to take his time and tried to play a big slog sweep across the line. As a result, he was bowled for a first-ball duck by another fellow leg spinner Ravi Bishnoi.
With the ball, Wanindu Hasaranga was taken to the cleaners by Yashaswi Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav. He went for 15 runs in his first four balls and was smashed for 18 runs in his next over to finish with 1-34 in two overs. Wanindu Hasaranga’s poor performance has angered former Pakistan wicket keeper Kamran Akmal who shared his thoughts on the same.
Kamran Akmal’s blunt assessment on Wanindu Hasaranga’s performances in IND vs SL T20I series
Kamran Akmal has criticized Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga for his underwhelming performances in the ongoing three-match T20I series against India. Despite having the home advantage, the Sri Lankan side suffered losses in the first two fixtures.
The second T20I of the series proved to be a forgettable outing for Wanindu Hasaranga. The 27-year-old was dismissed for a golden duck and bowled an expensive spell, registering figures of 2-0-34-1.
Akmal opined that Wanindu Hasaranga hasn’t shown the same intensity in international cricket that he has done while playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the Lanka Premier League (LPL). Slamming the crafty spinner for his casual attitude, the Pakistani keeper-batter said in his latest YouTube video:
“You’ve been the captain and are a match-winner. But look how he’s batted and bowled. His attitude doesn’t look serious on the field. We have seen him give everything in LPL and IPL. You need to have the same commitment while playing for your nation as well.”
Sri Lanka getting off to an impressive start and then suffering a collapse has been the story so far in the series. They lost seven wickets and scored just 31 runs in the last five overs of the second T20I. Wanindu Hasaranga lost his wicket to Ravi Bishnoi. He went for the slog sweep on the very first ball he faced. However, he failed to get any connection and the ball ended up crashing into the stumps.
Basit Ali’s sarcastic take on Wanindu Hasaranga’s flop show in IND vs SL 2nd T20I
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali also took a dig at Wanindu Hasaranga after Sri Lanka’s seven-wicket loss to India in the second T20I. He sarcastically remarked that the player has now become bigger than the sport.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Basit said :
“Number one all-rounder, Wanindu Hasaranga. I think he has become bigger than cricket. Cricket is small, he is big. He got out on the first ball by playing a poor shot. With the ball, he was taken to the cleaners by Suryakumar Yadav and Yashaswi Jaiswal.”
Sri Lanka would aim to avoid a whitewash in the third and final T20I of the series, which will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, July 30.