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Sri Lanka Banks on Nissanka, Spin Duo for T20 WC Glory on Home Soil

Sri Lanka enters the T20 World Cup with significant home advantage but a concerning record of poor performances on home soil since the last tournament. The team's hopes are pinned on the prolific batting of Pathum Nissanka and the experienced spin partnership of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. However, a struggling middle order and a conservative batting approach pose serious challenges to their campaign. They begin their Group B campaign against Ireland in Colombo on February 8.

Key Points: Sri Lanka's T20 WC Hopes: Home Advantage & Key Players

  • Relies on Pathum Nissanka's batting form
  • Spin duo of Hasaranga & Theekshana key
  • Poor home record since last T20 WC
  • Middle-order batting a major concern
  • Placed in Group B with Australia
4 min read

T20 WC: Sri Lanka aim to overcome poor home run; bank on Nissanka-Perera, Hasaranga-Theekshana duos

Can Sri Lanka overcome poor home form to win their first ICC title since 2014? Analysis of Nissanka, Hasaranga, Theekshana, and squad prospects.

"It is just about peaking at the right time for the Lankan boys in their homeland."

New Delhi, February 5

A mixed-bag Sri Lanka would be relying on key players like Pathum Nissanka, skipper Dasun Shanaka, spin duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana as they head into the T20 World Cup with a massive home advantage, which gives them a real shot at their first ICC title since the 2014 edition of the tournament.

Heading into the tournament, Sri Lanka have been largely sub-par at home and have lacked the big tournament/match pedigree which made them such a fearsome unit during the golden days of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Lasith Malinga and Muttiah Muralitharan. However, with a considerable amount of T20 experience under their belt, it is just about peaking at the right time for the Lankan boys in their homeland.

-Team's performance since last T20 World Cup:

Since the last T20WC, Sri Lanka has played 33 matches, winning 13, losing 18 and two ending in a tie.

Coming to a series-wise breakdown, Sri Lanka has participated in 10 bilateral series/multi-team tournaments, winning just two of these. 5-10-1

-A loss to India at home (0-2, one tie) (July 2024)-A win over West Indies at home (2-1) (Octobet 2024)-A draw against New Zealand at home (1-1) (November 2024)-A loss to New Zealand away from home (1-2) (December 2024)-A loss to Bangladesh at home (1-2) (July 2025)-A win against Zimbabwe away from home (2-1) (September 2025)-A Super Four exit in Asia Cup in UAE (September 2025)-A tri-nation series loss in Pakistan featuring Zimbabwe (November 2025)-A draw against Pakistan at home (1-1) (January 2026)-A loss to England at home (0-3) (January-February 2026)

-Top performers for Sri Lanka after T20 World Cup 2024:

*Pathum Nissanka: 1,156 runs in 33 matches and innings at an average of 36.12, with a strike rate of almost 141, including a century and eight fifties.

*Kusal Mendis: 796 runs in 33 matches and innings at an average of 26.53 and a strike rate of 124.76, with three fifties.

*Kusal Perera: 635 runs in 27 matches and 26 innings at an average of 26.45, a strike rate of almost 140, with a century and three fifties.

*Wanindu Hasaranga: 41 wickets in 26 matches at an average of 18.29, with two four-fers.

*Dushmantha Chameera: 28 wickets in 16 matches at an average of 16.50, with a four-fer and five-for to his name.

*Maheesh Theekshana: 26 wickets in 27 matches at an average of 29.34, with best figures of 3/28.

-Positives for Sri Lanka:

*Nissanka's coming of age as a T20I batter: Nissanka has developed immensely as a T20I batter ever since the last T20 World Cup. Not only he has performed consistently well for Sri Lanka, but has also started finding his feet in franchise cricket. The 27-year-old impressed on his International League T20 (ILT20) debut last year with Gulf Giants, getting 243 runs in six innings at an average of 40.50 and a stunning strike rate of almost 187, with three fifties.

*Spin duo of Hasaranga-Theekshana: Hasaranga and Theekshana are currently in solid form and have immense experience of playing at home and in India too. On their day, these two are a match-winning pair.

*Home advantage: Sri Lanka has home advantage by their side, it is just about clicking at the right time now.

-Negatives for Sri Lanka:

*Poor run at home after T20 WC 2024: Sri Lanka has been largely poor at home, winning just one out of five series at home. They have won just five of 16 T20Is at home and lost 10, including one tie.

*Poor form of the middle-order batters: Charith Asalanka (365 runs in 27 matches at an average of 17.38 with a fifty), Kamindu Mendis (313 runs in 23 matches at an average of 17.38, with two fifties), skipper Shanaka (291 runs in 24 matches at an average of 18.18 with a fifty) have been disappointing since the last T20 WC, and a lot hinges on the success of Nissanka, Perera and an emerging Kamil Mishara, who looks a fine number three prospect for Lankans.

*Conservatism in batting: With an overall strike rate of 124.83 and top-seven batters SR of 129.67, there is plenty of conservatism in batting approach which SL needs to overcome to catch-up with aggressive teams like India, South Africa and England.

SL is in Group B with Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe and will start against Ireland in Colombo from February 8.

Sri Lanka Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Janith Perera, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
The stats are quite revealing. Winning only 5 out of 16 home T20Is since the last WC is a serious concern. Home advantage only works if you know how to use it. The middle-order collapse seems to be their Achilles' heel.
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Priya S
Pathum Nissanka is in sublime form! Over 1100 runs at a 140+ strike rate is world-class. If he gets going, he alone can take the game away. But the team is too dependent on him and Perera. Shanaka needs to lead from the front with the bat.
A
Aman W
As an Indian fan, I have a soft corner for Sri Lankan cricket. They gave us so many legends. It's sad to see them struggle. Hope they find their mojo back, but just not against India! 😄 The group with Australia is tough though.
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Karthik V
The article rightly points out the conservatism in batting. Strike rate of 124 is not going to cut it in modern T20s. Teams like England and India are scoring 200 regularly. Lanka needs to be more fearless, especially in the powerplay.
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Nisha Z
Their bowling looks decent on paper with Hasaranga, Theekshana, and Pathirana's pace. But batting is a huge worry. Charith Asalanka and Kamindu Mendis averaging in the 17s is simply not acceptable for your key middle-order players. Time for a shake-up?

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