Sri Lanka leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who produced impressive performances against the Indian team that toured the island nation last month, has earned his maiden IPL call-up.

Hasaranga has been roped in by the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore as a replacement for Australian leg-spinner Adam Zampa and would also be joined by countrymate pacer Dushmantha Chameera in the franchise.

RCB, currently third in the standings with 10 points from seven matches, have also included 25-year-old Tim David of Singapore in their ranks to bolster the middle order. They resume their IPL 2021 campaign against KKR on September 20 in Abu Dhabi.

“(Top-order batsman) Fin Allen and (bowling all-rounder) Scott Kuggeleijn are both selected for New Zealand tours (of Bangladesh and Pakistan), while (Aussie quick) Kane Richardson has made himself unavailable as has Daniel Sams (Aussie left-arm pacer). The balance of our squad has thus changed dramatically,” Mike Hesson, RCB’s director of cricket operations as well as head coach now that Simon Katich has quit citing personal reasons, said on Saturday.

Emphasising the inclusion of Hasaranga, who scalped seven wickets in the three T20Is against India, Hesson said: “Wanindu has been on our radar for a long time. We like his skill-set.”

Buttler out

Jos Buttler will miss the second leg of the IPL. “Jos Buttler will not be part of the remainder of #IPL2021, as he and Louise are expecting a second child soon. We wish them well,” the Royals tweeted.