COLOMBO: Sri Lanka captain Dinesh Chandimal will miss next week´s first test against India after being diagnosed with pneumonia, dealing a big blow to the hosts ahead of the three-test home series against their neighbours.
The 27-year-old was named test captain earlier this month after long-serving skipper Angelo Mathews stepped down following Sri Lanka´s first one-day international series defeat to Zimbabwe.
The right-handed batsman then led Sri Lanka to a win in the one-off test against the same opposition.
"Chandimal was down with flu and was taken to the hospital this morning," a Sri Lanka Cricket spokesman told Reuters.
The first test against Virat Kohli-led India starts on Wednesday at Galle.
"We were actually only told late last night - the blood test came a bit late.
He´s got pneumonia," Asanka Gurusinha, Sri Lanka´s cricket manager, was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
"He was admitted to hospital this morning at 9 AM (local time), and he´s definitely out of the first test.
"Sri Lanka have limited-overs captain Upul Tharanga in the side while spin spearhead Rangana Herath has also lead the side last year in the absence of Mathews.
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