Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of IPL 2024 due to heel injury; SRH yet to name replacement

Sri Lankan spin-bowling all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was on Saturday ruled out of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) due to a chronic heel pain in his left foot.

According to ESPNCricinfo, Hasaranga was yet to join the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), who had bought him at his base price of Rs 1.5 crore in the mini auction in December. Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) would later inform the BCCI of his unavailability for the 17th season of the cash-rich league.

The Sunrisers, who had hoped for Hasaranga to fill the void created by Afghan leg-spinner Rashid Khan’s departure to the Gujarat Titans, were yet to announce a replacement for Hasaranga on Saturday but are understood to be on the lookout.

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SRH head coach Daniel Vettori had earlier stated that Hasaranga had consulted a specialist in Dubai after being treated by SLC medical staff, with the news of his withdrawal coming shortly after.

Their spin-bowling duties have primarily been carried out by left-arm spinner Shahbaz Ahmed and wrist-spinner Mayank Markande, with all-rounders Washington Sundar (off-spin) and Abhishek Sharma (left-arm orthodox) also pitching in occasionally.

Hasaranga had been acquired by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for Rs 10.75 crore ahead of IPL 2022, and would go on to collect 26 wickets that season at an average and economy of 16.54 and 7.54 respectively, including a haul of 5/18 against his future team SRH.

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The Sri Lankan would finish as the second-highest wicket-taker that season, behind Rajasthan Royals’ Yuzvendra Chahal, who managed to get one more wicket than Hasaranga.

Hasaranga wasn’t as effective in the 2023 edition though, collecting nine wickets in eight appearances across the season with his economy touching nine (8.90). The Royal Challengers would then release him along with Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood and Indian seamer Harshal Patel ahead of the player auction that took place in December in Dubai.

Hasaranga’s most recent appearance was in the white-ball leg of Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh, starring in the visiting team’s three-wicket victory in the second ODI with a haul of 4/45. He is expected to play a key role in the Lankans’ T20 World Cup campaign in June.