Sri Lanka veteran Dinesh Chandimal taken to hospital after neck injury in Galle Test against India

Galle: Sri Lankan veteran Dinesh Chandimal was taken to hospital after sustaining shoulder and neck injuries whilst diving to prevent a boundary on day four of the Galle Test against India on Tuesday.

Chandimal, Sri Lanka's most experienced batter, will undergo precautionary medical scans. Should the assessments reveal a significant neck issue, Sri Lanka could utilise a concussion substitute during their run-chase, with Pasindu Sooriyabandara available as the reserve top-order batter in the squad.

The injury occurred in the fourth over of India's second innings when Chandimal sprinted from deep mid-wicket to deep square leg, throwing himself full-length to intercept a shot from KL Rahul. Though he successfully cut off the boundary to save two runs, he hit the ground heavily on his shoulder and tumbled head-over-heels, causing his neck and shoulder to bend awkwardly beneath him.

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Collapsing beyond the boundary rope in acute discomfort, he received immediate attention from team-mates, the medical staff, and the team physiotherapist. Chandimal was observed holding his neck, head, and shoulder repeatedly before gingerly walking off the field unassisted to the dressing room.

Sooriyabandara subsequently took to the field as a substitute fielder. Chandimal had earlier managed just four runs in Sri Lanka's first-innings effort.

Despite India building a substantial lead, Sri Lanka maintained pressure by taking regular wickets throughout Tuesday's opening session on day four.

At the opening session break, India stood at 116 for four in their second innings, with Rishabh Pant on 21 not out alongside Dhruv Jurel on five not out, extending their overall lead to 294 runs.

Earlier in the match, despite Sonal Dinusha's maiden Test century on the third day, Sri Lanka were bowled out for 284 in response to India's first-innings score of 462, allowing the Shubman Gill-led side to establish a commanding 178-run advantage.

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Dinusha and wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella had put together a 146-run stand for the sixth wicket to stall the Indian attack, before seamer Prasidh Krishna dismissed Dickwella for 80 in the 62nd over. Dinusha held firm to complete his landmark hundred, but Manav Suthar (4-76) and Ravindra Jadeja (3-57) prevented Sri Lanka from building a larger total.

India have now set Sri Lanka a target of 372 in the Galle Test.

ANI