Chandimal out of the ODIs once again

Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal has been left out of Sri Lanka’s squad for the three-match ODI series against India. Chandimal’s exclusion from the ODI squad is no surprise, given his recent form in the shorter format but he is currently Sri Lanka’s top scorer in the Test series in India, having scored two half centuries in the Nagpur Test.

Chandimal had an excellent 2016 in ODIs, hitting six fifties and two hundreds in 13 innings but his form took a huge beating in 2017 following a finger injury, scoring 255 runs off 15 innings with an average of 18.21.

He was Sri Lanka's highest run-getter in ODIs in 2016, with 656 runs at an average of 59.63. In the recent series in Pakistan, he scored only 41 runs in five innings with a best of 19 which has largely influenced selector’s decision to drop him.

The Sri Lanka team led by Thisara Perera will also see the return of Asela Gunaratne, Kusal Janith Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka into the side.

Gunaratne who suffered a fractured thumb during the opening Test against India in Galle missed the rest of the Indian series and the series against Pakistan in the UAE.

He was also not considered for the current Test series against India. However he has gained full fitness and has been included in the squad.

Kusal Perera had not represented Sri Lanka since the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury. Gunathilaka comes back to the side after missing the Pakistan ODI series over disciplinary issues.

The first ODI will be played on 10th December at Dharamsala, while the second and third matches will take place on 13th and 17th December.