Why is Dilshan Madushanka not playing India vs Sri Lanka ODI series?

Sri Lankan pacer Dilshan Madushanka will be absent from action in the three-match ODI series between India and Sri Lanka, which begins on Friday (August 2), due to a hamstring injury. He suffered a Grade 2 left hamstring injury during a fielding practice.

Madushanka is a key part of the hosts' set-up and would be a big miss. The 23-year-old left-arm quick has 41 ODI wickets already in just 23 matches, with a brilliant average of 24.87, a five-wicket haul, and a four-fer to his name.

He was expected to start the first ODI but will now have to undergo rehab and recovery. Grade 2 hamstring strains take up to a month to be completely healed.

The quick has had an unlucky time with injuries of late. He suffered a similar left hamstring injury amid an excellent double-wicket performance against Bangladesh in the ODI series in March, forcing him to miss the third match and the ensuing Test series.

Sri Lanka's playing 11 without Dilshan Madushanka

Madushanka isn't the only forced loss for Sri Lanka. Right-arm quick Matheesha Pathirana will also miss the ODI series due to a "mild strain".

The team has brought in promising quicks Mohammed Shiraz and Eshan Malinga as replacements with Kusal Janith, Pramod Madushan, and Jeffrey Vandersay coming in as reserves for the rubber.

Among them, Shirzj earned a place in the 11. Sri Lanka will hope that the strong spin attack and the batters turn up in home conditions.

Sri Lanka 11: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka (c), Janith Liyanage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando and Mohamed Shiraz

This would still come as a spanner in Sri Lanka's hopes to kick off the preparations for the 2025 Champions Trophy. They are coming off a heavy whitewash in the T20I series against the Indians and need some positive results to turn it around.

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