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Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne will bring the curtains down on his international career following the second Test against Australia in Galle, which begins on February 6. The match holds significant personal importance for the 35-year-old, as it will also mark his 100th appearance in red-ball cricket for Sri Lanka.
Karunaratne’s retirement will see him join an elite list of Sri Lankan cricketers to have achieved this milestone, becoming only the seventh player from his nation to do so. The left-handed opener has been a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s batting lineup in the World Test Championship (WTC) era, leading from the front with both his leadership and batting performances.
Dimuth Karunaratne set to retire after 100th Test
Since making his Test debut in 2012, Karunaratne has been one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable batters, amassing 7,172 runs in 99 matches, including 16 Test centuries. His consistency at the top of the order played a crucial role in several of Sri Lanka’s memorable victories. However, recent struggles with the bat have seen a dip in his form, managing just 182 runs in his last seven Test matches.
His last half-century came against New Zealand in September 2024, and his performances in the ongoing series against Australia have been underwhelming, registering two single-digit scores in the first Test. Despite the recent lean patch, his contributions to Sri Lankan cricket remain undeniable, with numerous match-winning knocks and his ability to anchor innings in challenging conditions.
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Memorable test innings as a captain of Sri Lanka
Reflecting on his career ahead of his 100th Test, Karunaratne, speaking to the ESPNcricinfo recalled one of his most challenging yet rewarding innings – the pink-ball Test against India in Bengaluru in 2022. Facing a formidable Indian bowling attack led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, Karunaratne described how batting under lights was an enormous challenge.
He recounted a critical moment with Kusal Mendis, where he told his partner that if he survived the testing period, he would go on to score a hundred. True to his word, he delivered a remarkable innings, which he later described as his best knock as Sri Lanka’s captain.
“There was a really tough period where we had to bat a few overs against the new ball under lights. At the end of one day, I remember telling Kusal Mendis that if I survived that period, I’d somehow get a hundred the next day. (Jasprit) Bumrah and (Mohammed) Shami with the pink ball were incredibly hard to see through that night. But then things got into a flow, and I could score runs. Probably my best innings as captain,” Karunaratne said.
Sri Lanka will be keen to level the two-Test series against Australia when the second game gets underway on February 6 in Galle. Karunaratne will become only the seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to achieve the landmark of 100 Test matches, joining an elite group of legends. However, despite his experience and past contributions, his recent struggles were evident in the first Test against Australia, where he registered two single-digit scores. As he prepares to step away from international cricket, Sri Lanka will be looking to honor his illustrious career with a strong performance in the decisive Test match.
