Sri Lanka fast bowler Nuwan Thushara has been ruled out of the T20I series against India due to a broken finger. The Lankans are set to clash against India in a white-ball series, consisting of three T20Is and three ODIs, commencing on July 27. Two days ahead of the white-ball series, it was revealed that pacer has been won’t participate due to a finger injury.
The news came a day after Sri Lanka announced that Dushmantha Chameera was out of the series due to illness, and was replaced by Asitha Fernando. Sri Lanka Cricket took to X to announce that Thushara broke his finger in his left hand while during a training session. The statement read, ” Nuwan Thushara will not take part in the T20I series, as the player suffered an injury to his left thumb while fielding during practices last night. A medical report obtained shows a fracture on the player’s left thumb.”
As per ESPNcricinfo, the injury had occurred late on Wednesday, when the Lankans were practicing under lights. The 29-year-old had consistently been part of Sri Lanka’s T20I XI this year. He was a star performer for his side in the T20 World Cup 2024 and took eight wickets in three matches that the side played. Earlier, had also taken a T20I hat-trick on his way to figures of 5 for 20 against Bangladesh.
Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka has replaced Thushara in Sri Lanka’s squad for the T20Is. Thushara scalped eight wickets in seven outings at a strike rate of 18.75.