Sri Lanka, Feb. 5 -- Dimuth Karunaratne is set to retire from Test cricket after playing his 100th match against Australia in Galle this week.

Three key factors influenced his decision. With Sri Lanka scheduled to play only two more Tests until May 2026, opportunities for a long-format specialist like Karunaratne are scarce. The 36-year-old has also struggled for form, averaging 27.05 since 2024. Additionally, this marks Sri Lanka's final Test of the current World Test Championship cycle.

"It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next WTC cycle," Karunaratne told ESPNcricinfo. "Plus, this match is in Galle, where I made my debut, so it will be nice to finish things there....