SL vs AUS: Dimuth Karunaratne set to retire after milestone 100th Test in Galle

Former Sri Lanka captain Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from international cricket following the second Test against Australia in Galle, beginning Thursday. The Galle Test will be Karunaratne's 100th red-ball appearance for the Sri Lanka national men's team.

Karunaratne has been Sri Lanka's best batter in the World Test Championship era. He has scored 7,172 runs across 99 Test matches with 16 Test hundreds.

The former Sri Lankan captain has decided to step away from international cricket following a recent dip in form. Karunaratne has managed to score 182 runs in his last seven Test matches, with his only half-century against New Zealand in September 2024.

"It is difficult for a Test player to keep himself motivated to play 4 Tests for a year and maintain his form," Karunaratne, who made his Test debut in 2012, was quoted as saying by 'Daily FT'.

"In the last two-three years after the WTC (World Test



Championship) was introduced, we have been having very little bilateral series. My current form is another reason; completing my 100 Tests, the end of the WTC cycle (2023-25), I thought is the right time to retire."

Karunaratne, who had set himself a personal goal of reaching 10,000 Test runs, acknowledged that his recent struggles at the crease influenced his decision to retire.

"I have some personal plans of my own. I've decided to retire after speaking to other senior players like Angie (Angelo Mathews) and Chandi (Dinesh Chandimal)," he said.

"Rather than the three of us retiring at the same time, it will be better for us to go one by one. I thought I will retire first because I know I cannot go for my next target – 10,000 runs – with the lesser number of Tests being played.

"I am happy with what I have achieved so far. I want to announce my retirement with a happy moment like playing in my 100th Test."