DC vs GT: Gujarat Titans Name Sri Lankan Skipper Dasun Shanaka As Kane Williamson's Replacement

DC vs GT: Gujarat Titans Name Sri Lankan Skipper Dasun Shanaka As Kane Williamson’s Replacement

by CA DeskApril 4, 2023

Last Update on: April 4th, 2023 at 09:05 pm

Gujarat Titans, one of the leading franchises of the TATA Indian Premier League, has announced Dasun Shanaka as Kane Williamson’s replacement for the ongoing IPL 2023 season.

The New Zealand skipper suffered a serious injury to his right leg while trying to catch a ball at the boundary during the team’s opening game against Chennai Super Kings on March 31, 2023.

Dasun Shanaka, the Sri Lankan white-ball captain, is an explosive middle-order batsman who also bowls right-arm seam. He was in sensational form in the recent T20I series against India, scoring 124 runs in just three innings at an impressive strike rate of 187, while maintaining an average of 62.00. He was also the highest run-scorer for Sri Lanka in the subsequent ODI series, scoring 121 runs in three innings.

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The 30-year-old cricketer was signed by the Gujarat Titans for his base price of INR 50 lakhs and will be making his debut in the TATA IPL this season. Dasun Shanaka’s inclusion in the team is expected to bolster the middle-order batting and provide an additional bowling option.

Dasun Shanaka Set To Join Gujarat Titans

Dasun Shanaka has made a significant impact in the T20 format of the game. He made his T20 debut for Sri Lanka against Pakistan in 2015 and has since played 86 matches in the format. With a career strike rate of 121.59, he is known for his explosive batting and his ability to clear the boundary ropes with ease.

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Dasun Shanaka has scored 1329 runs in T20I cricket at an average of 21.09. He has also picked up 25 wickets with his right-arm medium-fast bowling, with an economy rate of 8.10. He is particularly effective in the middle overs of the game, where he can slow down the scoring rate of the opposition while also taking crucial wickets.

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Shanaka has also made a name for himself as a reliable finisher in T20 cricket, with several match-winning performances for his teams. He will be looking to make a similar impact for the Gujarat Titans in the upcoming TATA IPL season.