According to reports, former Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne is set to call time on his international cricket career. The 36-year-old is set to play his 100th Test match against Australia in Galle. Karunaratne has been one of the best batters not only for Sri Lanka but also in the Test format ever since his debut in 2012 against New Zealand in Galle.
The former Lankan skipper went on to score just seven runs in the previous match. Australia won the opening game by a massive margin of an innings and 242 runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Galle will witness both sides play the second and final Test match starting on 6th February before the two-match ODI series, which is to be played on 12th and 14th February.
Karunaratne began his Test career against New Zealand in Galle and was out for a duck in his maiden innings to Tim Southee. In the second innings, the left-handed batter scored a run-a-ball 60 to help his side win the game by ten wickets. Over the next few years, Karunaratne became a key figure in the Sri Lankan Test side.
Dimuth Karunaratne’s glittering career set to end on emotional note
Former Sri Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne has played 99 Test matches and scored 7172 runs. The 36-year-old has hit 16 centuries and 39 half-centuries with an average of 39. Karunaratne is the fourth-highest run scorer for Sri Lanka in Test cricket. Kumar Sangakkara (12400) and Mahela Jayawardene (11814) lead the list, with Angelo Mathews in the third spot with 8090 runs.
2017 was a standout year for Sri Lankan ace batter Karunaratne, who scored 1031 runs from 13 matches. The left-handed batter also had a great year in 2021, where he notched up 902 runs with four centuries and an average of 69. This was the same year he registered his best Test score of 244 against Bangladesh in Pallekele.
Apart from his 99 Test matches, Karunaratne has also played 50 ODI matches and scored 1316 runs. The veteran batter hit one century and 11 fifties, with his best of 103 coming against Ireland during the 2023 ODI World Cup qualifying matches.
Speaking about Karunaratne’s captaincy record, the 36-year-old led in 30 Test matches, winning 12 and losing 12, while six matches were drawn. In the ODI format, the veteran led in 17 matches, winning 10 and losing seven.