Sri Lankan batsman Kusal Mendis was admitted to a hospital in Dhaka on Monday, 23 May 2022, following chest pain on the first day of the second Test against Bangladesh. During the last over before lunch, Mendis felt uncomfortable and lay down on the ground. The medical personnel of the team treated him, but he left the field shortly after putting his hand on his chest. Kamindu Mendis came on the field instead of Kusal Mendis. Mendis scored 54 and 48 runs in both the innings of the first Test match of the series.
This is Sri Lanka’s last match on this tour of Bangladesh. According to the ESPNCricinfo report, Kusal Mendis is being looked after at a hospital in Dhaka. The incident happened a few minutes before the lunch interval. During the 23rd over, 27-year-old Mendis was fielding in the slip cordon when he felt chest pain.
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) doctor Manzoor Hossain Chowdhury was quoted in the report as saying that Mendis had to be taken to the hospital for ‘proper diagnosis and better management’ of his condition. Manzoor Hussain Choudhary said, “Kusal Mendis was suffering from dehydration before the match. This reason can also be the reason for the batsman’s restlessness. It could also be a case of gastritis. It will be possible to tell something exactly about their problem only after the investigation and treatment is completed.
At present, it is not known how much time Kusal Mendis will spend in the hospital. Kusal Mendis scored a fifty in the first innings of the Chittagong Test. He then scored 48 runs in the second innings. His innings helped Sri Lanka draw the game.
The conditions were very bad for the players in the first Test also due to the humidity. Tamim Iqbal was forced to retire on the third day after suffering an injury due to a severe cramp. At the same time, on-field umpire Richard Kettleborough also had to leave the field on the fourth day due to the scorching heat. Not only this, players were often seen having drinks under giant umbrellas during Test matches.
Sri Lanka had to use a concussion option for pacer Vishwa Fernando after he was hit by a bouncer from Shoreful Islam on the second day in Chittagong. In his place, Kasun Rajita landed on the ground.
Let us tell you, 27-year-old Kusal Mendis has played 49 Test matches for Sri Lanka so far. In this, he has more than 3 thousand runs to his name at an average of 35. Kushal Mendis has scored 2300 runs in 82 ODIs at an average of 30.