Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is not a player teams should risk bidding for in the IPL 2025 auction. Despite his undeniable talent and ability to turn games with both bat and ball, his persistent injury issues have made him an unreliable investment for franchises.
Hasaranga’s injury-prone record
Hasaranga’s history of injuries has marred his IPL career. The all-rounder missed the entire IPL 2024 season after being picked by Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) for ₹1.5 crore. Chronic heel injuries kept him on the sidelines, leaving SRH disappointed and owner Kavya Maran publicly expressing her frustration.
Even after recovering for the T20 World Cup, Hasaranga failed to perform as Sri Lanka exited early. He faced yet another setback during a series against New Zealand, where he was ruled out midway due to injury.
Performance overview
While Hasaranga has shown glimpses of his potential, his overall IPL performance has been inconsistent:
| Year | Matches | Wickets | Average | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | 26 | 35 | 21.37 | 8.13 |
| 2023 | 8 | 9 | 28.67 | 8.90 |
| 2022 | 16 | 26 | 16.54 | 7.54 |
| 2021 | 2 | 0 | – | 10.00 |
Hasaranga’s best season was in 2022, where he picked 26 wickets in 16 matches with a stellar average of 16.54. However, his performance dropped sharply in 2023, and he missed 2024 entirely.
Why teams should steer clear
- Injury concerns: Chronic injuries have disrupted his availability, making him unreliable over the course of a season.
- Inconsistent participation: Teams like SRH have already suffered due to his absence, and no franchise would want a repeat scenario.
- Diminishing returns: While his T20I economy rate of 6.93 and IPL economy of 8.13 are decent, they don’t justify the risk of his frequent absences.
A risky investment
Given his track record, even his former franchise, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), is unlikely to bid for Hasaranga. Teams would be wiser to invest in players who offer consistency and reliability over the course of a demanding IPL season.
While Hasaranga’s talent is undeniable, his frequent injuries and inconsistent participation make him a gamble no team should take in the IPL 2025 auction.