Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Kusal Perera has reportedly declined the offer to join Sunrisers Hyderabad squad as David Warner's replacement. It has been learnt that the 27-year-old Perera is keen to play in Sri Lanka's domestic first-class tournament to regain his place in the national Test side
Earlier, reports had claimed that Sunrisers Hyderabad wanted a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman on board for IPL 2018 after their ace skipper David Warner was handed a 12-month ban by Cricket Australia for his involvement in the infamous ball-tampering scandal.
"Yes, we have approached Kusal Perera as a replacement for Warner. Like Warner, he is also a devastating batsman and our analyst informed us that he has been in tremendous form in last few months. Though nothing has finalized as yet, we are hopeful Perera will join our squad," a Sunrisers Hyderabad official had told Cricket Age.
Moreover, Sri Lankan journalist Daniel Alexander on Friday (March 30) tweeted that the southpaw has turned down the offer.
“Sri Lanka's Kusal Janith Perera has reportedly rejected an IPL offer (Warner replacement) to play domestic first-class tournament to work on Test recall. @KusalJPerera #SriLanka #LKA” Daniel Alexander wrote on his official Twitter page.
Sri Lanka's Kusal Janith Perera has reportedly rejected an IPL offer (Warner replacement) to play domestic first-class tournament to work on Test recall. @KusalJPerera #SriLanka #LKA
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) March 30, 2018
Perera is widely deemed as the most destructive batsman in Sri Lankan cricket right now. He was the highest run scorer in recently concluded Twenty20 tri-series involving India and Bangladesh. As far as Kusal Perera’s overall T20I stats are concerned – he has scored 1020 runs at an impressive strike-rate of 137.83 in 34 matches. Previously, Perera has represented Rajasthan Royals in the cash-rich Indian Premier League.
