Karunaratne to retire from Tests after his 100th match

Dimuth Karunaratne will retire from Test cricket after playing his 100th match against Australia in Galle this week. His decision is influenced by three factors: Sri Lanka’s limited Test schedule until May 2026, his dip in form—averaging 27.05 since 2024—and the conclusion of the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

Karunaratne, 36, believes it’s the right time to step away, allowing younger players to prepare for the next WTC cycle. “This match is in Galle, where I made my debut, so it’s nice to finish here,” he told ESPNcricinfo. He informed Sri Lanka Cricket of his decision after the first Test against Australia.

Debuting in 2012 against New Zealand at Galle, Karunaratne was briefly dropped in 2014 but secured his place with a maiden Test century. Over 12 years, he became Sri Lanka’s most successful Test opener, scoring 7,079 runs at 39.99. He will be the seventh Sri Lankan to reach 100 Tests, joining legends like Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, and Kumar Sangakkara.

Reflecting on his career, Karunaratne wishes he had reached 10,000 Test runs and played a WTC final. His captaincy tenure included Sri Lanka’s historic 2-0 series win in South Africa in 2019. He also led Sri Lanka in the 2019 ODI World Cup but never played a T20I.

Now based in Melbourne, he plans to take a break before exploring coaching opportunities. “I’d like to get involved in cricket again,” he said. Karunaratne’s final Test begins on Thursday in Galle, marking the end of an era for Sri Lanka’s batting mainstay.