Kusal Mendis, Dickwella named in SL squad for India Tests

[Nergal]

 

Kusal Mendis has sustained a hamstring niggle. © Getty
Inclusion of Lahiru Thirimanne, Niroshan Dickwella and Kusal Mendis (subject to fitness) headlines Sri Lanka's Test squad for their upcoming two-match series against India, with uncapped legspinner Jeffrey Vandersay also getting a call-up.

Squadmuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Lahiru Thirimanne, Dhananjaya de Silva (vc), Kusal Mendis (subject to fitness), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Charith Asalanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis (will not take part due to an injury), Lahiru Kumara, Suranga Lakmal, Dushmantha Chameera, Vishwa Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrema, Lasith Embuldeniya
Both Mendis and Dickwella missed Sri Lanka's last series against West Indies at home, the two of them serving a ban for bio-bubble breach in England at the time. Mendis, though, will need to prove his fitness after copping a hamstring injury during the fifth T20I against Australia recently.

Thirimanne, 32, also missed the home series against West Indies but makes a return to boost the batting order.

Suranga Lakmal, who will retire from international cricket after the series, will lead the pace attack.

The likes of Oshada Fernando, Roshen Silva, Suminda Lakshan, Ramesh Mendis (for fitness reasons), Minod Bhanuka, Lakshan Sandakan, Asitha Fernando and Chamika Gunasekara don't make it to the squad.

Meanwhile, Niroshan Dickwella and Dhananjaya De Silva have been drafted into the T20I squad in place of injured Kusal Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana. Also, Maheesh Theekshana will return home, and so will Wanindu Hasaranga from Australia.