Sunrisers Hyderabad pick Vijayakanth Viyaskanth

Sri Lankan leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has been picked up by the Sunrisers Hyderabad for the team, replacing the injured Wanindu Hasaranga. Hasaranga had to withdraw due to injury, paving the way for Vijayakanth to join the squad. The official announcement was made last Saturday as Hasaranga was ruled out of the IPL 2024 due to injury. Hyderabad has acquired Vijayakanth for a reserve price of 50 lakh rupees.

Vijayakanth is only 22 years old. He made his mark in December 2020 as the youngest player in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), representing Jaffna Stallions. He was the only cricketer born and raised in Jaffna to play in that tournament.

Vijayakanth represented Sri Lanka in the 2023 Asian Games, where cricket was included in the T20 format held in China. He brings experience from playing in the T20 league in the United Arab Emirates for the MI Emirates. He played for the victorious team MI Emirates, taking 8 wickets in just 4 innings last year.

Kumar Sangakkara, the cricket director and head coach of Rajasthan Royals, brought Vijayakanth as a net bowler last year in the IPL. This time, he has the opportunity to play for the main team due to Hasaranga's injury. He will play for Hyderabad, whose bowling coach is Muttiah Muralitharan. Sri Lankan connections have always favored Vijayakanth. Besides, he has played for the Chattogram Challengers in the Bangladesh Premier League (BPL).

Vijayakanth has played a total of 33 T20 matches, taking 42 wickets, with an average of 18.78 and an economy rate of 6.76.