SRH name Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as Wanindu Hasaranga's replacement

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) have signed leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth as Wanindu Hasaranga's replacement for the remainder of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, the franchise announced on April 9 (Tuesday). The 22-year-old leg-spinner has been roped in by the franchise at his reserve price of INR 50 lakh.

Viyaskanth initially came into the spotlight in 2020 when he became the youngest player—aged 18 years and 364 days—to play in the Lanka Premier League (LPL). He represented Sri Lanka in the Asian Games 2023 in China, where he played one T20 International (T20I). 

He most recently rose to prominence at the International League T20 (ILT20), where he picked up eight innings in four matches for the MI Emirates at an economy rate of 5.43 under the watchful eyes of Mahela Jayawardene, the global head of performance. He has also represented Chattogram Challengers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

In fact, Kumar Sangakkara, Rajasthan Royals' (RR) head of cricket brought him in as a net bowler last year and at SRH, the young leg-spinner will work under another Sri Lankan spinner in Muttiah Muralitharan - who is the team's bowling coach.

Overall, Viyaskanth has played 33 T20s, in which he has scalped 42 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76

SRH expected Hasaranga to show up for an injury that had delayed his arrival, but the chronic heel pain will keep him out for the rest of the season. On April 7 (Sunday), Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) communicated with the BCCI that Hasaranga would be pulled out of the IPL, keeping an eye on the T20 World Cup 2024, starting June 1, where Hasaranga is expected to play a key role.

SRH had initially brought Hasaranga for his base price of INR 1.5 crore in the IPL 2024 auction after he was released by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), who had signed him for INR 10.75 crore in 2022.

Cover Image courtesy: Orange Army IPL on Twitter