Former Sri Lanka captain and veteran opener Dimuth Karunaratne has officially retired from international cricket after playing his 100th Test match against Australia in Galle. The match ended in a nine-wicket defeat for Sri Lanka, as Australia completed a 2-0 series sweep.
36-year-old Karunaratne announced before the game that this will be his final Test match, and in these two innings scored 36 runs in the first and 14 in the second, marking an end to 13 years of international cricketing.
A Phenomenal Test Career
Karunaratne made his Test debut in 2012 at the same Galle International Stadium and went on to become one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable openers. In his 100 Tests, he accumulated 7,172 runs at an average of 39.25, including 16 centuries and 39 half-centuries. His highest score in Tests was an unbeaten 244.
One-Day International Career
Although a Test cricketer, Karunaratne also played 50 ODIs, scoring 1,316 runs. He even captained Sri Lanka in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, though the team did not advance beyond the group stage.
Leadership and Historic Achievements
Karunaratne was appointed Sri Lanka’s Test captain in 2019 and led the team in 30 matches, winning 12 and losing 12. His most notable achievement as captain came in 2019 when he led Sri Lanka to a historic 2-0 Test series victory in South Africa. It was the first time an Asian team had won a Test series in South Africa since their readmission to international cricket.
Praise from ICC and Cricketing Community
International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman Jay Shah said, “Dimuth has had a very fine career during which he excelled as a batter in the most traditional format of the game, becoming only the seventh from his country to feature in 100 Tests. His commitment has been second to none and he has been a great ambassador of the game. I am sure fans of Test cricket the world over will miss him.”
Future Plans
Karunaratne has announced that he would take a break from the game for a few months before he considers coaching. “It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next World Test Championship cycle,” he said.
Karunaratne’s retirement marks the end of an era in Sri Lankan cricket. His contributions as a solid opener, a leader, and a role model for younger cricketers have left an indelible mark on the game. His records, including 16 centuries as an opener—joint-most for Sri Lanka alongside Marvan Atapattu—underline his impact on the sport.
