Pasindu Sooriyabandara debuts as concussion sub for Chandimal in Galle Test
Synopsis
A neck-and-shoulder injury to Dinesh Chandimal has handed Pasindu Sooriyabandara one of the rarest entries into Test cricket — a debut as a concussion substitute. He is only the fifth player in history to earn his maiden Test cap this way, stepping in at Galle with Sri Lanka chasing 372 to save the first Test against India.
Key Takeaways
Pasindu Sooriyabandara was named concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal on Day 4 of the first Test at Galle International Stadium .
Chandimal suffered a neck and shoulder injury while fielding; hospital scans returned clear with no internal injury.
Sooriyabandara is only the fifth player in Test history to earn a maiden Test cap as a substitute, after Mudzinganyama, Zondo, Parkinson, and Shah.
The 26-year-old has scored 4,893 runs in 102 first-class innings at an average of 54.36 , with 14 centuries .
India set Sri Lanka a target of 372 runs ; Rishabh Pant top-scored with 66 off 69 balls (his 20th Test fifty).
Asitha Fernando took 4 wickets for Sri Lanka, with Prabath Jayasuriya claiming 3 .
Right-handed batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara was named concussion substitute for injured Dinesh Chandimal on Tuesday, 19 August, making his Test debut midway through the first match between India and Sri Lanka at the Galle International Stadium. The match referee approved the switch after Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed Chandimal's precautionary scans returned clear.
How Chandimal Got Injured
Chandimal sustained an injury to his neck and shoulder while attempting to field a ball during the first session on Day 4 of the match. He was taken to hospital for scans. SLC confirmed the scan was 'clear' with 'no signs of internal injury', allowing the concussion substitute protocol to proceed.
A Historic Debut
With his entry, Sooriyabandara became just the fifth player in Test cricket history to earn his maiden Test cap as a concussion or emergency substitute. The four before him were Brian Mudzinganyama of Zimbabwe (concussion), Khaya Zondo of South Africa (Covid), Matt Parkinson of England (concussion), and Bahir Shah of Afghanistan (concussion). It is a rare distinction that places him in an exceptionally short list spanning multiple nations and circumstances.
Sooriyabandara's First-Class Credentials
The 26-year-old arrives with a strong first-class pedigree. In 102 first-class innings, Sooriyabandara has accumulated 4,893 runs at an average of 54.36, including 14 centuries and 23 half-centuries. He also featured in the tour match between India and a Sri Lanka Cricket XI, contributing scores of 35 and 4 across two innings in a game India won by six wickets while chasing 207.
Match Situation: India Set 372-Run Target
India set Sri Lanka a challenging target of 372 runs after the visitors were bowled out for 193 at tea on Day 4. The third session began approximately 30 minutes late at 3:30 PM IST due to drizzle.
Rishabh Pant was India's batting star, posting a stroke-filled 66 off 69 balls to reach his 20th Test half-century. KL Rahul contributed 35 and Devdutt Padikkal added 44. For Sri Lanka with the ball, Asitha Fernando was the pick of the attack with four wickets, while Prabath Jayasuriya took three, Lahiru Kumara claimed two, and Keshara Nuwantha picked up one.
With Sri Lanka now needing 372 to win in the final session and a half, Sooriyabandara could find himself batting under significant pressure on debut — an unusual and high-stakes introduction to Test cricket.
Point of View
But it has also quietly created a new category of Test debutant — one who arrives without the usual preparation, fanfare, or selection announcement. Five players have now entered Test cricket this way, from Zimbabwe to Afghanistan to Sri Lanka, which suggests the rule is being invoked more frequently than administrators perhaps anticipated. For Sri Lanka, the more pressing concern is whether a debutant, however talented in first-class cricket, can handle the pressure of batting for a 372-run chase in the final stretch of a Test match against a strong Indian attack.
NationPress
18 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Pasindu Sooriyabandara and why is his debut historic?
Pasindu Sooriyabandara is a 26-year-old Sri Lankan right-handed batter who made his Test debut as a concussion substitute for Dinesh Chandimal in the first Test against India at Galle. He is only the fifth player in Test cricket history to earn his maiden cap as a substitute, joining Brian Mudzinganyama, Khaya Zondo, Matt Parkinson, and Bahir Shah.
What injury did Dinesh Chandimal suffer in the Galle Test?
Dinesh Chandimal injured his neck and shoulder while attempting to save a ball during the first session on Day 4 of the first Test at Galle. He was taken to hospital for precautionary scans, which Sri Lanka Cricket confirmed were clear with no signs of internal injury.
What target did India set Sri Lanka in the first Test at Galle?
India set Sri Lanka a target of 372 runs after bowling them out for 193 at tea on Day 4. Rishabh Pant top-scored for India with 66 off 69 balls, while KL Rahul made 35 and Devdutt Padikkal contributed 44.
What is Pasindu Sooriyabandara's first-class record?
Sooriyabandara has scored 4,893 runs in 102 first-class innings at an average of 54.36, including 14 centuries and 23 half-centuries. He also played in the tour match against India, scoring 35 and 4 in a game India won by six wickets.
Who were the top bowlers for Sri Lanka in India's second innings at Galle?
Asitha Fernando was Sri Lanka's leading wicket-taker with four wickets, troubling India's batters with short-pitched deliveries. Prabath Jayasuriya took three wickets, Lahiru Kumara claimed two, and Keshara Nuwantha picked up one.
