IPL 2024: Who Is Vijaykanth Viyaskanth? Sunrisers Hyderabad's Replacement Player For Wanindu Hasaranga

Sunrisers Hyderabad has roped in Sri Lanka's young spinner Vijaykanth Viyaskanth as replacement for injured Wanindu Hasaranga for the remainder of the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.

Hasaranga, who was bought by SRH during the 2024 auction for his base price of Rs 1.50 Crore, had been nursing a chronic heel pain in his left foot and Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) had informed the BCCI about the senior all-rounder's unavalability for the season.

SRH had waited on reports from Hasaranga's visit to Dubai for treatment and post that made a decision to sign a replacement for the Sri Lankan T20 captain. The Indian Premier League announced the signing of Viyaskanth for a base price of Rs 50 Lakh.

"Sunrisers Hyderabad have signed Vijaykanth Viyaskanth as a replacement for the injured Wanindu Hasaranga for the remainder of the Tata Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024," IPL announced on Tuesday (April 9).

"Vijaykanth, a leg-spinner from Sri Lanka, has represented his country in a solitary T20 International so far. He joins the Tata IPL at his base price of INR 50 lakhs."

The Sunrisers, who registered their third win of the campaign following a thriller against Punjab Kings, also announced the signing of the youngster just before their clash with PBKS.

"Wanindu Hasaranga will be unavailable for the season due to injury. We would like to wish him a speedy recovery," SRH posted on X, announcing the arrival of Viyaskanth.

"Sri Lankan spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth has joined the squad as his replacement for the rest of #IPL2024. Welcome, Viyaskanth!"

Who is Vijaykanth Viyaskanth?

Viyaskanth is a 22-year-old leg break bowler born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The leggie announced his arrival in 2020 when he became the youngest player to feature in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) for Jaffna Stallions a day shy of his 19th birthday - December 4.

Unlike Hasaranga, who can be handy with the bat, Viyaskanth is known only for his bowling. He has one cap for Sri Lanka in the T20Is, representing the country at the 2023 Asian Games, where he ended with figures of 1 for 28 in 4 overs in his only appearance.

Apart from the solitary appearance for the national team, the 22-year-old, who was born on December 5, 2001, has made 33 T20 appearance, claiming 42 wickets at an economy rate of 6.76 with the best of 3 for 14.

Among the 33 T20 matches, Viyaskanth has played for MI Emirates in the ILT20 and Chattogram Challengers in Bangladesh premier League. In ILT20, he had taken eight wickets in 4 matches at an economy of 5.43 with the best of 3 for 22.

In the Lanka Premier League, the young leg-spinner has claimed 22 wickets in 18 matches for Jaffna Kings at an economy rate of 6.98. Now, he is set to join the SRH squad, which only has Mayank Markande as the specialist leg-spinning option.