After a small absence from the T20 scene after their victorious series against Bangladesh, the Sri Lankans are gearing up for battle in the coming ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup. The tournament will begin on Sunday, June 2, 2024, and is going to be held in the United States of America and the West Indies. Wanindu Hasaranga will lead the Sri Lankan Lions during this conquest.
The Sri Lankans boast a star-studded team with experienced players like Angelo Matthews in the squad. Sri Lanka will be eyeing the cup that has evaded their grasp since 2014. After losing out in the Super 12 in the last World Cup, Sri Lanka will be looking to up their game and try their best to lift the World Cup a decade later.
The Sri Lankan Team Announced for the T20 World Cup
The Sri Lankan Cricket Board announced their 15-man squad on Thursday, May 9, 2024. The squad is filled with experienced campaigners who have held the reins of Sri Lanka’s team for the past few years now.
The Squad:
| Player | Position |
| Kusal Mendis | Batsman |
| Pathum Nissanka | Batsman |
| Kamindu Mendis | Batsman |
| Charith Asalanka (vc) | All-Rounder |
| Dasun Shanaka | Batsman |
| Wanindu Hasaranga (c) | All-Rounder |
| Angelo Mathews | All-Rounder |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | Wicket Keeper |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | All-Rounder |
| Maheesh Theekshana | Bowler |
| Dunith Wellalage | Bowler |
| Dushmantha Chameera | Bowler |
| Matheesha Pathirana | Bowler |
| Nuwan Thushara | Bowler |
| Dilshan Madushanka | Bowler |
There are also a few players who are currently involved with the team as traveling reserves. These are:
- Asitha Fernando
- Vijayakanth Viyaskanth
- Bhanuka Rajapaksa
- Janith Liyanage
The Batsmen
Sri Lanka has a good batting lineup consisting of some of Sri Lanka’s most dependable batsmen. The lineup also has players who have been honing their craft in the sport for a long time now.
The Top-Order Batsmen
Sri Lanka has strong top-order batsmen. The Sri Lankan openers, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, both have a large catalog of feats that make them stand out in the team. Nissanka is a dependable top-order batsman known for his professional plays and ability to anchor the innings. His recent performances in T20Is have been vital for Sri Lanka. With 1,231 runs in nearly 50 T20Is at an average of almost 30 and a strike rate of almost 120. Aiding him on the pitch is Kusal Mendis, an aggressive opener who knows how to get runs on the board the quickest. This is most evident in his strike rate which is a whopping 135.
The Middle-Order Batsmen
The middle-order is led by the captain and vice-captain of Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka. Both players are known for being level-headed in difficult situations and are capable of making critical decisions when necessary. The duo is more than capable of not just leading the squad but they can also hold their ground on the pitch and build solid partnerships.
The All-Rounders
Sri Lanka is a team filled to the brim with very capable all-rounders. Angelo Mathews is the most experienced among the bunch. He is a dependable batsman and a great pace bowler who is capable of controlling both innings well. Angelo Mathews has scored 1357 runs in 85 T20Is at a strike rate of 125.22 and taken 45 wickets. Former T20 captain, Dasun Shanaka, is an explosive middle-order batsman and a useful seam bowler. His ability to finish games and provide breakthroughs with the ball is invaluable. He has a strike rate of 123 and has claimed 31 wickets, making him a key player in both the batting and bowling departments.
The Wicketkeeper
Putting on the gloves for the Lankans is Sadeera Samarawickrama. He is a solid wicketkeeper and is also a professional at building partnerships and accelerating the run rate when he has the bat in his hands.
The Bowlers
The Lions have a pace-heavy bowling lineup. They make fast plays and aim to destroy the stumps as quickly as possible. The X-factors in Sri Lanka’s bowling lineup are Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara. The two youngsters are known for being able to toss the ball like the legendary Lasith Malinga. The bowlers sling the ball at an angle that is hard to predict for most players. They have also enjoyed success in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and have an overall economy rate of 6.8 and 8.10 respectively. The Pacers in the squad are further strengthened by the likes of Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka.
The Ideal Playing XI
Sri Lanka’s Ideal Playing XI is
Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga (c), Charith Asalanka (vc), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, and Dilshan Madushanka
This combination of players keeps the batting line strong and lets Sri Lanka take advantage of their pacers. Hasaranga can keep the batsmen guessing by shaking up the pace line by bowling the spin ball himself or appoint Matheesha Pathirana.
Sri Lanka Placement Prediction
We predict that Sri Lanka will fall in the group stage of the tournament.
Sri Lanka are placed in Group D alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Netherlands and Nepal. While Nepal and Netherlands will not prove a challenge to the Lions, South Africa, and Bangladesh are big threats to the team. South Africa will likely dominate Group D and Sri Lanka will end up being their victim. Their main competition in the group stage is their long time rival, Bangladesh. The two teams have been in a constant back and forth with each team getting the win on multiple occasions. However, Bangladesh has a new team that Sri Lanka has yet to face. Adding to that, the Bangladeshi team has been playing games regularly and is coming back from a series win against Zimbabwe. The Lions have not seen much action lately and this may be the deciding factor that gives Bangladesh the edge they need.
Sri Lanka has a team filled with many veterans, but due to the team not being able to play many games in recent times, they might be a little rusty. Ultimately, that may cause the demise of the otherwise strong team.