IPL 2024: SRH announce the replacement of Wanindu Hasaranga

In a surprising turn of events just before the commencement of the IPL 2024 season, Sunrisers Hyderabad faced a setback with the injury of Wanindu Hasaranga, one of their prized acquisitions. Sunrisers Hyderabad swiftly moved to fill the gap by signing Sri Lankan leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.

Wanindu Hasaranga’s Injury

Wanindu Hasaranga’s journey with Sunrisers Hyderabad was poised to be an exciting one, given his exceptional skills in the T20 format. However, just before the start of the IPL season, news emerged of a heel injury that sidelined him from the initial matches. Despite initial hopes of a quick recovery, the injury persisted, forcing him to miss the entire season, leaving a void in the team’s lineup.

Replacement Announcement

In light of Hasaranga’s unavailability, Sunrisers Hyderabad swiftly moved to fill the gap by signing Sri Lankan leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth. This decision was made at Viyaskanth’s base price of INR 50 lakhs, marking a strategic move by the team management to secure a suitable replacement within budget constraints.

Who is Vijayakanth Viyaskanth?

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth may be a new name to some, but his performance record speaks volumes about his capabilities. With an impressive tally of 42 wickets from 33 T20 matches at an average of 18.78, Viyaskanth has proven himself as a reliable spinner in the shortest format of the game. Despite limited batting credentials, his prowess with the ball has earned him recognition in various domestic and international leagues.

Hyderabad’s Current IPL Standing

As Sunrisers Hyderabad navigates through the IPL 2024 season, the addition of Vijayakanth Viyaskanth adds depth to their bowling lineup. Currently positioned fifth on the points table with four points from four games and a net run rate of +0.409, Hyderabad aims to leverage Viyaskanth’s talent to enhance their chances of success in the remainder of the tournament.

He finished with 13 wickets (economy 6.68) in LPL 2023, finishing behind only Carlos Brathwaite (18) and Nuwan Thushara (14) and level with Kasun Rajitha. His 22 wickets (at 6.98) are the third-most in the history of the Jaffna franchise, behind Maheesh Theekshana (33) and, when he used to represent them, Hasaranga (28).

Viyaskanth also played for the Chattogram Challengers for BPL 2023, his maiden foray into an overseas T20 league. He had a terrific outing for the MI Emirates in the 2024 ILT20, taking eight wickets at 10.87 while going at 5.43 an over, the most economical for the franchise.