Ace spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will return to the ODI fold after he was named in the Sri Lanka cricket team for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, which starts next month.
Sri Lanka will play three ODIs and as many T20Is against the Kiwis. The T20 matches will begin on December 28 while the ODI series will start on January 5.
Leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga skipped the team’s home series against New Zealand in November due to a hamstring injury and was sidelined since. He also missed the series against Afghanistan.
The 27-year-old Wanindu Hasaranga was picked by the Rajasthan Royals for the Indian Premier League 2025 season as well. Fellow spinner Maheesh Theekshana, also a Royals player for IPL 2025, is also in the 17-member Sri Lanka ODI squad for the New Zealand series. Charith Asalanka is named captain.
Hasaranga has played 58 ODI matches for Sri Lanka, picking up 93 wickets ever since he made his debut in the format in 2017. He averages 25.09 with the ball and strikes at a rate of 29.3.
He has four five-wicket hauls in the format, including best bowling figures of 7/19 against Zimbabwe in January. Hasaranga is also handy with the bat, scoring 919 runs at an average of 22.97. He has four fifties, with a highest score of 80 not out.
Hasaranga last played an ODI late in October during West Indies’ tour of Sri Lanka.
Maheesh Theekshana, meanwhile, has represented Sri Lanka in 48 ODIs scalping 65 wickets at 27.84 apiece. He gives away only 4.62 runs per over. Like Hasaranga, the 24-year-old too can contribute with the bat lower down the order, averaging 18.37.
Sri Lanka squad for New Zealand 2025 ODI series
Sri Lanka cricket team: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Chamidu Wickramasinghe, Asitha Fernando, Mohamed Shiraz, Lahiru Kumara, Eshan Malinga.
