Kapugedera doubtful for fourth India ODI

Kapugedera had been nursing a stiff back before the third ODI which India won comfortably by six wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series. 

The right-handed batsman has not trained since Sunday’s game and a decision on his availability will be taken on Wednesday. “I was talking to the physio and he hasn’t been ruled out quite yet,” Sri Lanka cricket manager Asanka Gurusinha was quoted as saying. 

“He’s being treated. Only five or six guys are training tonight, so anyway we gave him a break. We’ll most probably look at it tomorrow (Wednesday) at training. If he doesn’t train, then definitely he is out,” he added. 

The 30-year-old, if ruled out of Thursday’s match, will become the fifth batsman to become unavailable for the hosts. Danushka Gunathilaka has been ruled out with a shoulder strain while regular skipper Upul Tharanga has been suspended due to a slow over rate. 

Test skipper Dinesh Chandimal, who was brought into the squad ahead of the third ODI, has been ruled out with a fractured finger while wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera and batting all-rounder Asela Gunaratne had earlier also been ruled out of the series with injury.