Sri Lanka’s opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne has officially announced that he will retire from international cricket after the second Test against Australia in Galle. This match will also mark a special milestone as it will be his 100th Test since his debut in 2012. Over his career, the 36-year-old has scored 7,172 runs at an average of 39.4, with 16 centuries and 39 fifties.
Why Dimuth Karunaratne is retiring?
Karunaratne explained his decision to retire, citing the challenge of staying motivated with only four Test matches per year. He also mentioned that the second Test against Australia will conclude the current World Test Championship cycle. His performance has not been at its best lately, as he last scored a century 26 innings ago. He said, “It is difficult for a Test player to keep himself motivated to play 4 Tests for a year and maintain his form… My current form is another reason; completing my 100 Tests, the end of the WTC cycle (2023-25), I thought is the right time to retire.”
Dimuth Karunaratne achievements
Karunaratne shared that he is satisfied with his accomplishments, even though he couldn’t reach the 10,000-run milestone due to fewer Test matches played by Sri Lanka. He expressed, “I thought I will retire first because I know I cannot go for my next target – 10,000 runs – with the lesser number of Tests being played. I am happy with what I have achieved so far. I want to announce my retirement with a happy moment like playing in my 100th Test.” Achieving the milestone of playing 100 Tests is important to him, as he said, “Appearing in 100 Tests I feel is an achievement.”
At 36 years old, Karunaratne is hoping to end his career on a positive note by helping Sri Lanka win the Test and level the two-match series against Australia.
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Srilanka players with atleaset 100 Tests
| Player | Matches | Runs | Wickets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mahela Jayawardene | 149 | 11,814 | 6 |
| Kumar Sangakkara | 134 | 12,400 | 0 |
| Muttiah Muralitharan | 132 | 1,259 | 795 |
| Angelo Mathews | 117 | 8,090 | 33 |
| Chaminda Vaas | 111 | 3,089 | 355 |
| Sanath Jayasuriya | 110 | 6,973 | 98 |
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