Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Pasindu Sooriyabandara debuts as concussion sub against India in Galle
India and Sri Lanka were playing a long cricket match called a Test in Galle.
A Sri Lankan player named Dinesh Chandimal got hurt while trying to save the ball in the field.
He dived to stop a shot, but he landed hard and hurt his neck and shoulder, and his head hit the ground.
Doctors checked him and he could not play anymore.
Sri Lanka was allowed to bring in a new player to take his place.
The new player was Pasindu Sooriyabandara, and it was his very first match for his country.
Only four other players in Test cricket history had ever made their debut in this special way.
Sooriyabandara has scored many runs in first-class cricket and is a good batter.
At that point, Sri Lanka needed 372 runs to win the match.
It was an exciting and unusual day for the new player.
Sri Lanka batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara made his international Test debut as a concussion substitute after replacing the injured Dinesh Chandimal in the first Test against India at Galle.
Chandimal was ruled out on Day 4 after hurting his neck and shoulder and hitting his head on the ground while diving to save a KL Rahul shot.
The match referee approved Sooriyabandara as the concussion replacement for the remainder of the Test; a precautionary scan showed no signs of internal injury.
Sooriyabandara is the fifth player in Test cricket history to earn his maiden Test cap as a substitute, following Mudzinganyama, Zondo, Parkinson and Bahir Shah.
India were dismissed for 193 in their second innings, leaving Sri Lanka needing 372 runs to win and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
- Who
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara, who debuted as a concussion substitute; injured batter Dinesh Chandimal; KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant and other India players; and the India and Sri Lanka cricket teams.
- What
- Sooriyabandara made his international Test debut as a concussion substitute after Dinesh Chandimal was ruled out due to injury during India's second innings.
- When
- Day 4 of the Test, on Tuesday.
- Where
- Galle International Stadium, Galle.
- Why
- Chandimal hurt his neck and shoulder and hit his head hard while diving to stop a shot from KL Rahul, and he was assessed and ruled out.
- Event
- India vs Sri Lanka, 1st Test (two-match series)
- Venue
- Galle International Stadium
- Day
- Day 4 (Tuesday)
- Concussion substitute
- Pasindu Sooriyabandara, 26, right-handed batter
- Injured player
- Dinesh Chandimal (ruled out)
- Injury
- Neck and shoulder; head hit the ground while diving on KL Rahul's shot
- Scan result
- Clear, no signs of internal injury
- Match situation
- Sri Lanka need 372 runs to win
