Sri Lankan opener Dimuth Karunaratne has announced his retirement from Test cricket. The second Test against Australia in Galle will mark his 100th and final appearance in the format. The former captain has decided to hang up his boots after reaching this milestone.
Karunaratne has been struggling for form in recent times, managing only 182 runs in his last seven Tests. However, over the past decade, he has been one of the best openers in Test cricket. In terms of total runs since 2015, Karunaratne leads the chart for openers, having scored 6,226 runs—more than any other opener, including David Warner, who has yet to reach 6,000 in the same period.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Karunaratne explained his decision:
“I informed Sri Lanka Cricket after the first Test against Australia that the next one would be my last. This is the right time to step away, as the next World Test Championship cycle could bring in three to four young players. Also, since my debut happened in Galle, finishing here feels perfect.”
Another factor behind his retirement is Sri Lanka’s limited Test schedule. After the Australia series, the team will play only two more Tests until May 2026. Karunaratne believes stepping aside now will provide opportunities for younger players.
He will become the seventh Sri Lankan cricketer to play 100 Tests, joining legends such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Angelo Mathews.
Overall, Karunaratne has amassed 7,172 Test runs, including 16 centuries. His highest Test score, 244, came against Bangladesh in 2021. He also captained Sri Lanka in 30 Tests between 2019 and 2024 and represented his country in 50 ODIs.
