Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from Test cricket after playing his 100th match against Australia in Galle this week.
Three key factors influenced his decision. With Sri Lanka scheduled to play only two more Tests until May 2026, opportunities for a long-format specialist like Karunaratne are scarce. The 36-year-old has also struggled for form, averaging 27.05 since 2024. Additionally, this marks Sri Lanka’s final Test of the current World Test Championship cycle.
"It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next WTC cycle," Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. "Plus, this match is in Galle, where I made my debut, so it will be nice to finish things there."
Having debuted in November 2012 at the same venue against New Zealand, Karunaratne has become Sri Lanka’s most prolific Test opener, amassing 7,079 runs at an average of 39.99. He will be the seventh Sri Lankan to reach 100 Tests, joining Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Angelo Mathews.
"Playing 100 Tests is a tough thing to accomplish, especially as an opening batter doing the dirty work for the team," he said. "If I have regrets, one would be not reaching 10,000 Test runs. The way I was going in 2017-2019, I thought I had a chance. But then Covid hit, and Sri Lanka don’t play as many Tests anymore. I’d also have loved to make a World Test Championship final."
Karunaratne captained Sri Lanka in 30 Tests, including the historic 2-0 series victory in South Africa in 2019. He also led Sri Lanka in the 2019 ODI World Cup but never played a T20I.
Now based in Melbourne, Karunaratne plans to take a break before pursuing a career in coaching. "After so many years playing cricket, I’ll take a bit of a break. But eventually, I’d like to get involved again," he said.
The second Test against Australia, Karunaratne’s farewell match, begins on Thursday.
Three key factors influenced his decision. With Sri Lanka scheduled to play only two more Tests until May 2026, opportunities for a long-format specialist like Karunaratne are scarce. The 36-year-old has also struggled for form, averaging 27.05 since 2024. Additionally, this marks Sri Lanka’s final Test of the current World Test Championship cycle.
"It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next WTC cycle," Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. "Plus, this match is in Galle, where I made my debut, so it will be nice to finish things there."
Having debuted in November 2012 at the same venue against New Zealand, Karunaratne has become Sri Lanka’s most prolific Test opener, amassing 7,079 runs at an average of 39.99. He will be the seventh Sri Lankan to reach 100 Tests, joining Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, and Angelo Mathews.
"Playing 100 Tests is a tough thing to accomplish, especially as an opening batter doing the dirty work for the team," he said. "If I have regrets, one would be not reaching 10,000 Test runs. The way I was going in 2017-2019, I thought I had a chance. But then Covid hit, and Sri Lanka don’t play as many Tests anymore. I’d also have loved to make a World Test Championship final."
Karunaratne captained Sri Lanka in 30 Tests, including the historic 2-0 series victory in South Africa in 2019. He also led Sri Lanka in the 2019 ODI World Cup but never played a T20I.
Now based in Melbourne, Karunaratne plans to take a break before pursuing a career in coaching. "After so many years playing cricket, I’ll take a bit of a break. But eventually, I’d like to get involved again," he said.
The second Test against Australia, Karunaratne’s farewell match, begins on Thursday.
