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Picture Credit: SLC

Former Sri Lanka captain and the team's batting mainstay Kusal Perera is all set to miss the six-matches against India beginning on July 18 due to an unconfirmed sprained right shoulder.

Moreover, Perera, who was the captain of the Sri Lankan side in England, has been replaced at the leadership role by Dasun Shanaka after the central contract dispute between players and the board in which the wicketkeeper-batter is said to have convinced the players not to sign the contract.

Sri Lanka has not withdrawn Perera officially

"Kusal Perera is almost certain to be out of Sri Lanka's series against India, after picking up a shoulder injury. The team has not divulged the exact nature of the injury, nor withdrawn him officially, but a team doctor says he's likely to be out for six weeks," ESPNCricinfo reported.

The 30-year-old was one of the visiting teams' three half-centurions in the ODI series in England and has been one of their top run-getters in the T20Is. He has scored 3071 runs in 107 ODIs along with 1347 runs in 50 T20 Internationals.

Fernando diagnosed with lateral ligament sprain

Furthermore, fast bowler Binura Fernando is also set to be unavailable at least for the three-match ODI series. Reports claim that the left-arm medium-fast bowler sprained his left ankle during a practice session prior to the Indian series. It has been diagnosed as a lateral ligament sprain and will need some time for recovery.

While the series was originally scheduled to begin on July 13, COVID-19 cases in the Sri Lankan camp on their return from England forced Sri Lanka cricket to reschedule the entire series against a white-ball specialist Indian side. The Shikhar Dhawan-led team on this tour has six uncapped players but also boasts of experienced players like Dhawan himself along with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. A separate squad comprising of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah and others are in the United Kingdom gearing up for a five-match Test series against England commencing in August.