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.

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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.

Summary/Static	Details
Why in the news?	Dimuth Karunaratne Retires, ICC Lauds His Contribution
Test Matches	100
Test Runs	7,222 (Avg: ~40)
Highest Test Score	244
ODI Matches	50
ODI Runs	1316
Test Centuries	16 (Most as a Sri Lankan opener, tied with Marvan Atapattu)
Captaincy Tenure	2019-2023
Tests as Captain	30 (12 wins, 12 losses)
Historic Achievement	Led SL to 2-0 Test series win vs South Africa in 2019
Retirement Match	vs Australia, 2025 (Galle)
ICC Recognition	Praised by ICC Chairman Jay Shah for his commitment & contribution
Post-Retirement	Expected to contribute to cricket in different roles