Dimuth Karunaratne is often praised among Sri Lanka Cricket fans as a solid left-hand opening batsman and former captain.
He has officially retired from international cricket, marking the end of a memorable career that spanned over a decade. The 36-year-old played his final Test against Australia in Galle, the very venue where he had made his Test debut in 2012.
Despite a modest farewell performance, scoring 36 and 14, Karunaratne’s contribution to Sri Lankan cricket remains immense. Australia secured a nine-wicket victory in the match, completing a 2-0 series sweep, but the focus remained on celebrating Karunaratne’s illustrious journey in Test cricket.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) praised the left-hander, acknowledging his dedication to the longest format of the game. “Dimuth has had a very fine career during which he excelled as a batter in the most traditional format of the game, becoming only the seventh from his country to feature in 100 Tests,” said ICC chairman Jay Shah in an official statement. He further praised Karunaratne’s consistency and leadership, highlighting his impact on Sri Lankan cricket.
Karunaratne retires with an impressive record of 7,222 runs in 100 Tests at an average of nearly 40, with 16 centuries to his name. His highest score of 244 remains one of the highlights of his career. Additionally, he played 50 One-Day Internationals (ODIs), amassing 1,316 runs.
Taking over the captaincy in 2019, Karunaratne led Sri Lanka in 30 Test matches, securing 12 wins and suffering an equal number of losses. Under his leadership, Sri Lanka achieved a historic 2-0 Test series victory over South Africa in 2019, becoming the first Asian team to win an away Test series against the Proteas since their readmission to international cricket.
A stalwart of Sri Lankan batting, Karunaratne holds the joint record with former captain Marvan Atapattu for the most Test centuries (16) by a Sri Lankan opener. His ability to anchor innings and provide stability at the top made him a reliable figure in the national setup.
Reflecting on his retirement, Karunaratne expressed gratitude for the opportunities he received and the support from fans, teammates, and cricketing authorities throughout his career. “His commitment has been second to none, and he has been a great ambassador of the game. I am sure fans of Test cricket the world over will miss him,” added Shah.
As Karunaratne steps away from the international stage, Sri Lanka will look towards the next generation of cricketers to fill the void left by one of its most dependable batsmen. With his wealth of experience, it remains to be seen if Karunaratne will continue to contribute to cricket in a coaching or mentoring capacity in the years to come.
Although Dimuth Karunaratne is departing from international cricket, his legacy as a resilient and determined cricketer will be marked in the annals of Sri Lankan cricket history.
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