Pasindu Sooriyabandara made his international debut as a concussion substitute and batted in the second innings for Sri Lanka against India. Here’s a list of players who made their debut as a concussion sub.
Sri Lanka’s Sooriyabandara made his international debut today as a concussion substitute for the injured Dinesh Chandimal during the fourth day of the first Test against India. In the fourth over of India’s second innings, Chandimal dived near the boundary line to save a couple of runs for his team.
In the process, he hurt himself, tumbling over completely with the weight of his whole body landing on his neck. Chandimal was seen holding his neck as he walked off and was also taken to hospital for a precautionary scan. Sri Lanka Cricket later confirmed there was no major injury concern, but he was ruled out after the doctor assessed him for concussion.
This opened the door for the 26-year-old Pasindu to make his debut in the game. He batted in the second innings at No.3 only to bag a golden duck. He was trapped plumb in front of the stumps by Manav Suthar as India overturned the on-field decision to send back the concussion sub.
Earlier in the day, he had taken an athletic catch to send back Ravindra Jadeja, but that time as a sub and not a part of the official 12.
Pasindu featured in the warm-up game for SLC XI last week, batting at number three to score 35 and 4 runs across two innings. He boasts a brilliant first-class record, averaging a stunning 54.36 in 68 FC matches, having amassed 4,893 runs with 14 centuries and 23 fifties, with 242 being his highest score.
He also scored an unbeaten 204 in March this year in the Major League Tournament, a domestic competition in Sri Lanka, for Moors Sports Club.
Sooriyabandara has joined a select list of players to make their debut as a concussion substitute. He is the fifth player in the format to do so in Tests after Brian Mudzinghanyama (Zimbabwe), Khaya Zondo (South Africa), Matt Parkinson (England), and Bahir Shah (Afghanistan).
Overall, including men’s and women’s cricket across all formats, Sooriyabandara is the 14th player to make his debut as a concussion substitute.
Players to make their debut as a concussion substitute
| Player | Format | Match Date | Team | Opposition | Replaced player |
| Pasindu Sooriyabandara | Test | 2026-08-15 | Sri Lanka | India | Dinesh Chandimal |
| Harshit Rana | T20I | 2025-01-31 | India | England | Shivam Dube |
| Tasmia Rubab | WT20I | 2024-09-18 | Pakistan Women | South Africa Women | Fatima Sana |
| Tshering Choden | WT20I | 2024-07-08 | Bhutan Women | Singapore Women | Tshering Zangmo |
| Hollie Armitage | WT20I | 2024-03-24 | England Women | New Zealand Women | Sarah Glenn |
| Lindokuhle Mabhero | WT20I | 2023-12-09 | Zimbabwe Women | Kenya Women | Kellies Ndhlovu |
| Bahir Shah | Test | 2023-06-14 | Afghanistan | Bangladesh | Hashmatullah Shahidi |
| Kamran Ghulam | ODI | 2023-01-13 | Pakistan | New Zealand | Haris Sohail |
| Matt Parkinson | Test | 2022-06-02 | England | New Zealand | Jack Leach |
| Khaya Zondo | Test | 2022-04-08 | South Africa | Bangladesh | Sarel Erwee |
| Neil Rock | ODI | 2022-01-08 | Ireland | West Indies | Andy McBrine |
| Glenda Menes | WT20I | 2021-11-22 | Kuwait Women | Bhutan Women | Rida Zainab |
| Brian Mudzinganyama | Test | 2020-01-19 | Zimbabwe | Sri Lanka | Kevin Kasuza |
| Tatiana Cerdes | WT20I | 2019-12-14 | Costa Rica Women | Belize Women | Genesis Diaz |
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