Dimuth Karunaratne Retires After 100th Test Milestone

Dimuth Karunaratne, former captain and opening batsman for Sri Lanka, has announced his retirement from international cricket following the second Test against Australia in Galle, marking his 100th Test appearance. This decision comes after a significant dip in form, with only 182 runs in his last seven Tests and a single half-century against New Zealand in 2024. Despite his recent struggles, Karunaratne has been a stalwart for Sri Lanka, amassing 7,172 runs at an average of 39.40, including 16 centuries, over a 14-year career. His leadership saw Sri Lanka to a historic Test series win against South Africa in 2019, and he has been part of the ICC Men's Test Team of the Year multiple times. Karunaratne's retirement signifies the end of an era for Sri Lankan cricket, as he joins an elite club of Sri Lankans who have played 100 Tests. The second Test, starting February 6, will be his last international appearance.