IPL 2023: Dasun Shanaka Replaces Injured Kane Williamson for Gujrat Titans

IPL 2023: Gujarat Titans (GT) have signed Sri Lanka’s white-ball skipper Dasun Shanaka to replace the injured Kane Williamson in IPL 2023. Williamson has been ruled out of the entire IPL 2023 due to a knee injury. He suffered the injury in the first game of the 16th edition of the Indian Premier League.

Williamson suffered a horrific knee injury while fielding in the series opener against the Chennai Super Kings (CSK). He was carried by the support staff to the dressing room. After scans took place it was confirmed that the Kiwi maestro will not be able to take part in the remainder of the IPL 2023 due to the injury. Since he wasn’t available to bat, the Titans used the impact player- Sai Sudharsan, who batted in Williamson’s place at number 3. The New Zealander has returned home and he will continue his recovery process under the supervision of the medical team.

IPL 2023: Shanaka’s Addition Strengthens GT Batting Line-up

Shanaka is yet to make an appearance in the biggest and toughest T20 league in the world. It’s surprising that Shanaka hasn’t made his IPL debut, despite being around the scene for a long time now. His performances for Sri Lanka have been nothing but brilliant. The seam-bowling all-rounder is an experienced T20 campaigner and has a great record playing the format in India. He was on fire in the white-ball series against India earlier this year. The explosive batter smashed 124 runs in three T20I innings at a strike rate of 187 while averaging 62.00. The Lankan skipper was also Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in the subsequent ODI series, scoring 121 runs in three innings. His performances weren’t enough to win either the ODI or T20I series but he definitely made a mark for himself. 

Earlier, CricTips predicted that Dasun Shanaka can be called in as a replacement player for the injured Williamson. Shanaka’s addition will provide more stability to the lower middle order of Titans. The Hardik Pandya-led team has won both games of the IPL 2023 so far and is currently sitting at the top of the points table.

Gujarat Titans (GT) Updated Squad for IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya (c), Wriddhiman Saha, Shubman Gill, Sai Sudharsan, David Miller, Rahul Tewatia, Rashid Khan, Mohammed Shami, Joshua Little, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Jayant Yadav, Vijay Shankar, Abhinav Manohar, Srikar Bharat, Mohit Sharma, Pradeep Sangwan, Matthew Wade, Odean Smith, Shivam Mavi, Darshan Nalkande, Urvil Patel, Dasun Shanaka