Is Dinesh Chandimal Ruled Out of SL vs IND 1st Test? Latest Injury Update

Sri Lanka's veteran cricketer Dinesh Chandimal suffered an injury scare during the first Test against India at the Galle International Stadium. As a result, he had to leave the field during Day 4 of the match.

Chandimal is a key player in Sri Lanka's batting line-up, carrying an experience of more than 90 Tests so far. His absence is not a great news for Sri Lanka as he can be valuable both as a batter and as a fielder due to his experience.

Is Dinesh Chandimal Ruled Out of SL vs IND 1st Test?

After the fourth over of Day 4 during the SL vs IND 1st Test, Dinesh Chandimal had to leave the field after suffering an injury to his neck and right shoulder. The former Sri Lanka captain injured himself after diving while attempting to stop a boundary.

He clearly seemed in discomfort after the injury and kept on checking his neck while he was on the ground. Afterwards, he walked off the field after getting onto his feet but wasn't comfortable.

Currently, there are no further updates from Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Dinesh Chandimal injury but an official statement is awaited. The veteran batter was assessed by Sri Lanka's medical team (doctor and physiotherapist) on the ground. Later, he was taken to the hospital for a precautionary scan after which a statement on Dinesh Chandimal injury update is likely to be released.

Can Dinesh Chandimal Be Substituted?

If he is ruled out, Dinesh Chandimal can be replaced by a concussion substitute for the remaining Test match. Pasindu Sooriyabandara replaced Chandimal on the field on Day 4 and it is likely that he can become his concussion substitute as well.

However, Sri Lanka team management will hope that their premier batter gets fit in time to bat. Chandimal's career hasn't been smooth but over the years, he has emerged to become one of the best Test batsmen.

Batting at No. 3, Chandimal scored 4 off 16 balls before he was dismissed by the left-arm spinner Manav Suthar in the first innings of the match. However, his Test average of 43.53 indicates that he is a good enough batter at this level and can be crucial for his team.