Sri Lankan pace bowler Dilshan Madushanka has been dealt a significant setback. He’ll be sidelined for the rest of the Bangladesh tour and will likely miss the first few weeks of IPL 2024 due to a hamstring injury.
Dilshan Madushanka, the left-arm seamer from Sri Lanka, is unfortunately facing a setback ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League season with the Mumbai Indians. Despite being a prized acquisition for the team during the auction in Dubai last December, where Mumbai secured him for 4.6 crore, Madushanka’s participation is now uncertain due to a left hamstring injury sustained during Sri Lanka’s recent ODI against Bangladesh.
The injury occurred midway through the match, forcing Madushanka to leave the field. Subsequent reports confirmed a tear in his hamstring. Sri Lanka Cricket announced on Sunday that Madushanka would be heading home to begin his rehabilitation process.
This turn of events is disappointing for both Madushanka and the Mumbai Indians, especially considering the excitement surrounding his acquisition and the bidding war his name sparked during the auction. Now, his focus shifts to recovery and getting back to full fitness as soon as possible.
“We got the report on his injury only today [Sunday], and it shows a small tear, He has suffered a left hamstring injury, and he will return [home] to start rehabilitation work. It’s a new injury. We’re not yet sure how long it will take for him to recover, but he’ll have to be assessed again when he goes home by the medical team at the high-performance center. For now, we know he’s out of the ODI tomorrow for sure,” Sri Lanka Cricket read.
In a recent chat with reporters, Sri Lanka’s assistant coach, Naveed Nawaz, affirmed that fast bowler Dilshan Madushanka would be sidelined for a period ranging from 4 to 6 weeks.
Madushanka’s standout performances during the World Cup grabbed the attention of IPL franchises in the 2024 auction, where the Mumbai Indians secured him for a substantial sum of INR 4.6 crore (approximately US$554,000). In the ODI World Cup, he impressed as the third-highest wicket-taker, claiming 21 wickets in nine matches.
At just 23 years old, Madushanka has taken 41 ODI wickets in 23 matches and has also shown his prowess in T20Is, securing 14 wickets in 14 outings. He has previously represented teams like the Sharjah Warriors in the ILT20 and the Durban Super Giants in the SA20 league.
Madushanka’s absence is a cause for concern for the Mumbai Indians, especially as their recent recruit Gerald Coetzee is also facing uncertainties due to a groin injury. Although Coetzee has joined the squad, his fitness status remains a point of scrutiny for the Mumbai Indians medical team, further complicating the team’s preparations for the upcoming IPL.
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