Why is Dhananjaya de Silva not playing ICC World Cup 2023, match 33 against India?

Dhananjaya de Silva. (Photo Source: Albert Perez-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Sri Lanka still have a mathematical chance to reach the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023. However, they will first have to overcome a huge obstacle in the form of a supremely confident Indian team. The two sub-continental giants lock horns at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday, November 2.

Sri Lankan captain Kusal Mendis said at the toss that leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha would be playing in this important clash, replacing the experienced Dhananjaya de Silva in the XI. De Silva had been woefully out of form in the tournament thus far. In the six matches he played, de Silva got to bat on five occasions and scored just 87 runs at an average of 17.4 and a strike rate of 70.16. He had an equally disappointing time with the ball in hand as he gave away 132 runs in the 120 balls he bowled and failed to pick up a wicket.

The 29-year-old Hemantha played in Sri Lanka’s five-wicket win against the Netherlands in Lucknow last month in the World Cup. He bowled eight overs and gave away 42 runs without picking up a wicket. With the bat