Wanindu Hasaranga is facing an extended period of unavailability for Sunrisers Hyderabad as he seeks medical advice overseas for persistent pain in his left heel.
Despite participating in Sri Lanka’s limited-overs series against Bangladesh in March, Hasaranga reportedly endured significant discomfort. Sri Lanka Cricket’s medical team has examined him and suspects the pain stems from wear and tear in the musculoskeletal structure of his left heel.
SLC’s doctors have advised Hasaranga to seek further evaluation to determine the exact nature of the injury and the most effective management plan. He plans to travel abroad next week for consultations.
As of now, Hasaranga has not joined the Sunrisers squad, and there is uncertainty regarding his return timeline. Both SLC and Hasaranga are likely targeting the T20 World Cup in June, where he is expected to lead the Sri Lankan team.
Should his condition necessitate additional rest, treatment, or rehabilitation, his IPL comeback could face further delays.
Hasaranga’s impressive performance in the 2022 IPL season for Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he claimed 26 wickets at an economy rate of 7.54, earned him a bid of INR 1.5 crore (approximately USD $181,000) from Sunrisers Hyderabad in the recent auction.
Earlier this month, disciplinary breaches led to Hasaranga’s suspension from Sri Lanka’s Test matches against Bangladesh, accumulating eight demerit points. This suspension raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming T20 World Cup. However, SLC clarified that Hasaranga’s return to Test cricket was unrelated to tournament considerations but rather motivated by his improved fitness levels, as he communicated in an email to SLC on March 16.
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