Dimuth Karunaratne Retires, ICC Lauds His Contribution

Former Sri Lankan captain and veteran opener Dimuth Karunaratne has retired from international cricket following his 100th Test against Australia in Galle. The 36-year-old scored 36 and 14 in his farewell match, which Australia won by nine wickets to sweep the two-match series. The International Cricket Council (ICC), through Chairman Jay Shah, lauded his contributions, highlighting his exceptional career and leadership. Karunaratne retires as one of Sri Lanka’s most accomplished Test openers, having scored 7,222 Test runs, including 16 centuries.

Key Highlight of His Career

Batting Achievements

• Scored 7,222 runs in 100 Tests at an average of nearly 40.
• Highest Test score: 244.
• Played 50 ODIs, scoring 1,316 runs.
• Holds the Sri Lankan record for most Test centuries (16) as an opener, tied with Marvan Atapattu.

Captaincy Record

• Led Sri Lanka in 30 Tests, winning 12, losing 12.
• Notably guided Sri Lanka to a historic 2-0 Test series win over South Africa (2019), making them the first Asian team to win an away series against the Proteas since their readmission.

Watch: Daily Current Affairs

Debut and Retirement

• ODI debut: vs England at Manchester (2011).
• Test debut: vs New Zealand (2012) at Galle, the same venue where he retired.
• Retired following Sri Lanka’s Test series loss to Australia (2025).

ICC Recognition

• ICC Chairman Jay Shah praised Karunaratne for his dedication and sportsmanship.
• Described as a great ambassador of Test cricket, contributing significantly to the sport.

Legacy & Future

• Expected to continue contributing to cricket with his experience.
• Remains one of Sri Lanka’s most respected Test cricketers and leaders.