Sri lankan batsman Asela Gunaratne was today ruled out of the ongoing three-Test series against India after fracturing his left thumb during the opening day of the first match here.
Gunaratne sustained the injury in the 14th over while fielding at second slip. He hurt his thumb while attempting a catch of India opener Shikhar Dhawan off the bowling of lahiru Kumara. Dhawan was batting on 31 when Gunaratne dived to his left to hold on to an edge off the Indian's bat, only for the ball to hit him on the end of the thumb. Gunaratne left the ground clutching his wrist and he was immediately rushed to Colombo for an operation. He will take no further part in the series.
Getting a reprieve, the India opener later went on to score a career-best innings of 190.
Gunaratne's injury means Sri lanka will bat with only 10 players in both their innings.