An MRI scan confirmed that the 40-year-old sustained a Grade II strain in his left calf, along with a chronic and resolving Grade I strain in his right calf, ruling him out of the entire series.
Former captain Dasun Shanaka earned a recall to Sri Lanka's T20I fold after being named in the 17-player squad for the three-match series against Bangladesh, scheduled to kick off on Thursday in Pallekele.
Sri Lanka made a solid start to their WTC 2025-27 with a 1-0 win over Bangladesh in a two-match Test series. In the second Test at Colombo, Pathum Nissanka's 158 stood as a highlight in their win by an innings and 78 runs.
Sri Lanka wrapped up the second Test and the series by orchestrating a resounding victory by an innings and 78 runs, claiming a 1-0 series win over Bangladesh and securing some valuable points in the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.
Star Sri Lanka batter Pathum Nissanka is likely to miss the two-match Test series at home against Austral which is scheduled to start from January 29 at Galle as he is still recovering from his groin injury, as per ESPNcricinfo.
Dhananjaya, Kamindu Mendis and Pathum Nissanka are all included in a large squad for the two Tests, with all three key players having been injury doubts heading into the home series against the reigning World Test Champions.
New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner expressed his thoughts on the loss in the last match of the series and said this was not the way he wanted it to end.
After registering a win in the last match of the ODI series against New Zealand, Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka expressed his thoughts on the win where he went on to say that it is always great to make a comeback.