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Dimuth Karunaratne names Indian duo as the toughest bowlers he faced ahead of his retirement

Former Sri Lankan cricket captain Dimuth Karunaratne names the two toughest bowlers he has faced as he gets ready to call time on his career.

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Dimuth Karunaratne names the two toughest bowlers he faced on the eve of his retirement

Dimuth Karunaratne names toughest Indian duo Photograph: (X)

Former Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne is set to call time on his cricketing career. The 36-year-old is set to play his 100th and final Test for Sri Lanka when they take on Australia in the second Test in Galle on Thursday. Karunaratne scored just seven runs in the first Test which the hosts lost by an innings and 242 runs. 

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During his chat with ESPN CRICINFO, Karunaratne named R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja as two of the toughest bowlers he faced. The 36-year-old said “I learned that in 2017 in a series against India. R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were bowling, and it was incredibly difficult to face them. Once they start bowling together there's not a loose ball to be found anywhere. They tend to start bowling very early in the innings as well, so there's just no chance to score," 

The former Lankan skipper also said “I learned a lot of patience in that series. I'd bat out their first spells, second spells, third spells, and eventually the loose balls started to come. In that series, I had a small, simple game plan - I'm only playing these three shots, nothing else. It worked nicely. Ashwin couldn't get me out lbw, or caught behind."

Also Read: Former Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne set to retire after second Test versus Australia

End of an era in Sri Lankan cricket

With over 7000 test runs, Dimuth Karunaratne is set to end his Sri Lankan career as one of the best batters in history. The 36-year-old has been one of the best Test players not only for his national team but also across the cricketing spectrum. With his retirement Sri Lankan cricket will feel a huge void as only Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews will be left from the experienced bunch. 

Karunaratne during his chat with ESPNCRICINFO and recounted his century against India in Bengaluru as his best. “There was a really tough period where we had to bat a few overs against the new ball under lights, and at the end of one day, I remember telling Kusal Mendis that if I survived that period, I'd somehow get a hundred the next day”

“Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami with the pink ball were incredibly hard to see through that night. But then things got into a flow, and I could score runs. Probably my best innings as captain." Said Karunaratne 

Ravichandran Ashwin Ravindra Jadeja Jasprit Bumrah Mohammed Shami Dimuth Karunaratne
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