Sri Lanka T20 Squad | Sri Lanka Men’s Cricket Team: Sri Lanka Cricket Team in 2024

Sri Lanka’s T20 cricket team has a rich history of early dominance, and is now at a key point in its development, standing as it does between past glories and future potential. This side was once hailed for their explosive batting and innovative spin typified by legends like Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan but inconsistency and transition have become their watchwords since then. They had conquered the world three times at the World T20 finals including one in 2014; however, this has not been sustainable in recent years. However, amidst all these challenges there lies hope in the form of old hands such as Dasun Shanaka as well as new talents like Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga. Sri Lanka will need to walk on a tightrope between betting on youth or experience while also addressing concerns such as a lack of consistency with batting, death bowling issues and fielding lapses if they are to recapture their former glory days. For Sri Lanka’s T20 team to regain its formidable status in the ever-changing nature of the T20 cricket format and remain one of the contenders in a global setting, it needs to have an approach that gains confidence through a winning attitude while investing heavily on focusing targeted skill development for nurturing young talent.

Read More: India T20 Cricket Team | Australia T20 Cricket Team | Bangladesh T20 Cricket Team

Sri Lanka T20 Cricket Team

Player Name	Speciality	Age	Memorable Achievement
Niroshan Dickwella	Wicketkeeper Batter	30	Niroshan Dickwella’s performance during the 2017 T20 series against South Africa shows his ability to bat explosively and win matches single handedly. He showcased remarkable form throughout the series which earned him the Player of the Series award.
Avishka Fernando	Opening Batter	25	Fernando’s career took a defining turn during the LPL finals in 2022. He played under immense pressure for Jaffna Kings where he smacked fifty runs off forty-three deliveries comprising four boundaries plus a sixer. The knock played an instrumental part towards leading the Jaffna Kings to chase down the target thereby lifting the LPL trophy.
Kusal Mendis	Wicketkeeper Batter	29	Mendis’ contribution was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s win over the Netherlands in the opening match of the 2022 T20 World Cup. He scored a quick-fire innings of 79 off just 44 balls which had five boundaries and 5 sixes to his name and was named Player of the Match. This knock helped Sri Lanka qualify for the Super 12 tournament stage.
Sadeera Samarawickrama	Wicketkeeper Batter	28	Sri Lanka was in dire straits in a T20 International match against Afghanistan – they needed someone to anchor them through the middle overs. Samarawickrama took responsibility, playing a composed innings that guided Sri Lanka back on track. The knock along with his tidy keeping played an important role for Sri Lanka as they won this crucial match.
Pathum Nissanka	Top order Batter	25	During the Asia Cup, Pathum Nissanka surpassed Kumar Sangakkara’s total of 576 runs by amassing the highest-ever scores at any player’s first twenty T20I games for Sri Lankans, totalling 589 runs thus far. Pathum Nissanka showed leadership by example in the first round of the 2022 T20 World Cup by scoring an outstanding knock of seventy-four from sixty deliveries against UAE. That inning helped Sri Lanka register a comprehensive win and make it through to the Super-12 phase.
Kusal Perera	Wicketkeeper Batter	33	Man of the Match Performance in the 2014 World T20: During the 2014 ICC World Twenty20, Perera exhibited his explosive nature against South Africa in a pool match. He hit a brisk 61 from just 40 balls to help Sri Lanka secure an important win by five runs. This innings won him the Player of the Match award. In World Cup 2021, Perera’s unbeaten knock of 33 runs from just 24 balls against Netherlands was very crucial. Along with his two catches, this helped Sri Lanka in securing a crucial victory in the group stage.
Binura Fernando	Bowler	28	His debut T20I against Pakistan in 2015 holds a special place. Not only did he claim his first international wicket, but it was none other than the legendary Shahid Afridi. This moment likely boosted his confidence and signalled his arrival on the international scene.
Dilshan Madushanka	Bowler	23
Maheesh Theekshana	Bowler	23	A testament to his impact, Theekshana has climbed into the Top 10 of the ICC’s T20I bowler rankings for consistently being among the top wicket-takers at the international level.
Nuwan Thushara	Bowler	29	During March 2024, Bangladesh played the third T20I against Sri Lanka. As such, he became the fifth player from Sri Lanka to pick up a hat trick in the T20s after himself which also marked a record maiden five-wicket haul during this exciting feat that helped them prevail.
Jeffrey Vandersay	Bowler	34	His debut match was something good for him when despite losing to WI during the World T20 held last year. He only conceded eleven runs off four overs and took one essential wicket showing how much control and accuracy he had within himself.
Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain)	All-rounder	26	Hasaranga got his name into the record books in 2021 during a tour of India with four wickets for only nine runs in his 4 overs against their star-studded batting line-up. On top of that, he achieved this remarkable spell on his birthday and it was instrumental to Sri Lanka winning this critical match as well as demonstrating his extraordinary bowling abilities. In the 2021 World Cup, Hasaranga emerged as the joint-leading wicket-taker alongside South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi, claiming 16 wickets in just 8 matches.
Charith Asalanka	Batting All-rounder	26	During Sri Lanka’s tour of Bangladesh in 2021, Asalanka exhibited his power-hitting skills in the Second T20I. They required just about 174 runs on board which was a huge target for them to attain.Batting at no. four and struck an important innings by scoring quick-fire eighty runs off forty-four balls. With seven fours and four sixes hit to clear the boundary easily from every stride he made, showing how strong he can be.
Akila Dananjaya	All-rounder	30
Dhananjaya de Silva	All-rounder	32	Dhananjaya De Silva displayed his all-round capabilities during a one-off T20I against the Proteas back in 2018 where the team scored their lowest total ever leading to being bowled out for just ninety-nine runs.
Angelo Mathews	All-rounder	36	In July 2023, he played an inning which was not only composed but also led Sri Lanka to a win by scoring just 85 runs in 43 balls as they chased a target of 158 set by West Indies. This also marked his latest century in all his international matches for Sri Lanka with scores at least more than 12,000.
Kamindu Mendis	All-rounder	25	He came out not out and made a half-century off only thirty-nine deliveries. In this great innings, there were seven boundaries and two sixes that were hit including the first-ever fifty in T20 international cricket.
Dasun Shanaka	All-rounder	32	When they met Australia during the T20 World Cup in 2021, Dasun Shanaka showed up with an unbeaten knock of 54 runs off just forty-two balls. Although they lost the match afterwards, his knock saved them from the high-scoring Australian batting squad team. He often plays well against India. He smashed three boundary fours and two huge sixes on his way to scoring a quickfire 45 from only twenty-three balls thus adding some momentum to Sri Lanka’s late-order batting during one of their T20I series against India in 2022.
Jeffrey Vandersay	Bowler	34

Niroshan Dickwella

A Sri Lankan dynamic player who is a left-handed batsman and wicketkeeper, Niroshan Dickwella’s aggression turns him into an unstoppable force in T20 cricket. His attacking batting style has made him adept at playing the ball when it comes hard on him. He can single-handedly change the direction of games with his power-hitting abilities during the middle overs. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	28	130
Runs	480	2420
Innings	27	124
Not Out	1	10
Balls Faced	366	1721
High Score	68	79
Average	18.46	21.22
Strike Rate	131.14	140.61

Avishka Fernando

Avishka Fernando is a right-handed opening batsman from Sri Lanka with great potential in T20 cricket. He has briefly shown what he can do for his team, although he still has a long way to go on the international stage. The way he bats shows a technique which allows him to play an anchor role at the top of the order.

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	35	116
Runs	341	2819
Innings	33	113
Not Out	2	9
Balls Faced	367	2120
High Score	37	100
Average	11	27.1
Strike Rate	92.91	132.97
Bowling
Matches	116
Balls	24
Innings	2
Runs	39
Wickets	0
Average	–
Strike Rate	–

Kusal Mendis

Kusal Mendis plays an aggressive brand of cricket, particularly against pacemen. At some point in any match, Kusal Mendis can lead his side to victory single handedly by clearing boundaries during over number four to 15. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	64	135
Runs	1554	3723
Innings	64	134
Not Out	2	6
Balls Faced	1145	2733
High Score	86	87
Average	25.06	29.08
Strike Rate	135.72	136.22
Bowling
Matches	135
Balls	1
Innings	1
Runs	0
Wickets	0
Average	–
Strike Rate	–

Sadeera Samarawickrama

Sadeera Samarawickrama is a twelfth man and wicket-keeper-batsman for Sri Lanka. He is a technically correct batsman who strikes the ball well enough to rotate strike. These qualities make him a safe pair of hands for sharp deliveries and communicating stumpings. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	18	99
Runs	310	2462
Innings	17	95
Not Out	2	14
Balls Faced	281	2040
High Score	61	100
Average	20.66	30.39
Strike Rate	110.32	120.68

Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka is one of such players. Pathum Nissanka has become an integral part of Sri Lanka’s T20 team. He has stylish shots and is gradually becoming more composed under pressure at the top. Holding a strong technical background he anchors innings and constructs stands. In addition, Pathum Nisshanka’s clean hitting stands out like nothing else through covers and down towards the ground with elegance and timing.

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	48	96
Runs	1231	2366
Innings	47	93
Not Out	3	4
Balls Faced	1057	2002
High Score	75	93
Average	27.97	26.58
Strike Rate	116.46	118.18

Kusal Perera

Kusal Perera fits into this group. Sri Lanka has always relied on Kusal Perera as their main source of firepower in the shorter formats. His power game can effortlessly clear boundaries. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	66	153
Runs	1677	3483
Innings	65	149
Not Out	2	8
Balls Faced	1286	2639
High Score	84	87
Average	26.61	24.7
Strike Rate	130.4	131.98

Binura Fernando

Sri Lanka has a young bowling sensation in Binura Fernando, who is known as a left-arm medium-fast bowler. Though he still needs to develop his international career, he has flashed some real potential. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	17	88
Runs	30	323
Innings	4	38
Not Out	2	12
Balls Faced	30	287
High Score	20	54
Average	15	12.42
Strike Rate	100	112.54
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	17	88
Balls	343	1812
Innings	17	87
Runs	488	2153
Wickets	16	109
Average	30.5	19.75
Strike Rate	21.4	16.6

Dilshan Madushanka

The name Dilshan Madushanka rings a bell when we talk about emerging players from Sri Lanka who are making waves in the T20 format. There is reason to believe that his international career will take off sooner rather than later due to his skills and recent performances.

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	97	212
Runs	1444	4076
Innings	89	195
Not Out	20	46
Balls Faced	1170	2908
High Score	74	131
Average	20.92	27.35
Strike Rate	123.41	140.16
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	97	212
Balls	486	1290
Innings	49	111
Runs	680	1903
Wickets	31	74
Average	21.93	25.71
Strike Rate	15.6	17.4

Maheesh Theekshana

Maheesh Theekshana, the mystery spinner for Sri Lanka in the T20 format who bowls right-arm off breaks balls. His merit lies in making batters look foolish through cunning variations, especially within the shortest format; moreover, no batsman can pick this ball up until it lands at his bat front foot.

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	97	212
Runs	1444	4076
Innings	89	195
Not Out	20	46
Balls Faced	1170	2908
High Score	74	131
Average	20.92	27.35
Strike Rate	123.41	140.16
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	97	212
Balls	486	1290
Innings	49	111
Runs	680	1903
Wickets	31	74
Average	21.93	25.71
Strike Rate	15.6	17.4

Nuwan Thushara

Nuwan Thushara is a right-arm fast-medium bowler, who with his sticky action, is making a name for himself in Sri Lanka T20 cricket. So far, he has managed to attract attention due to his pace and knack for taking wickets. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	8	87
Runs	8	38
Innings	3	26
Not Out	2	17
Balls Faced	9	45
High Score	6	7
Average	8	4.22
Strike Rate	88.88	84.44
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	8	87
Balls	145	1649
Innings	8	86
Runs	217	2164
Wickets	11	120
Average	19.72	18.03
Strike Rate	13.1	13.7

Jeffrey Vandersay

Jeffrey Vandersay is a right-arm leg-spinner known best for inconsistency considering whether we either discuss cricket or something else. His struggles with form have undermined his impact at the international level despite his undeniable talent. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	14	84
Runs	20	147
Innings	8	39
Not Out	7	19
Balls Faced	20	189
High Score	8	22
Average	20	7.35
Strike Rate	100	77.77
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	14	84
Balls	296	1687
Innings	14	82
Runs	395	2029
Wickets	7	85
Average	56.42	23.87
Strike Rate	42.2	19.8

Wanindu Hasaranga (Captain)

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Sri Lankan right-arm leg spinner and a handy lower-order batsman, has emerged as a true force to be reckoned with in T20 cricket. His potent bowling variations, exceptional fielding abilities, and developing batting skills make him a complete package and a vital asset for the Sri Lankan team. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	65	172
Runs	650	2010
Innings	55	135
Not Out	12	28
Balls Faced	498	1388
High Score	71	77
Average	15.11	18.78
Strike Rate	130.52	144.81
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	65	172
Balls	1420	3591
Innings	63	166
Runs	1619	4046
Wickets	104	241
Average	15.56	16.78
Strike Rate	13.6	14.9

Charith Asalanka

Charith Asalanka, the left-handed batsman from Sri Lanka, has emerged as a vital force in the T20 arena. His aggressive batting style, coupled with his ability to adapt to different situations, makes him a valuable asset for the Sri Lankan team. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	44	105
Runs	990	2166
Innings	44	103
Not Out	5	12
Balls Faced	786	1748
High Score	80	80
Average	25.38	23.8
Strike Rate	125.95	123.91
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	44	105
Balls	37	386
Innings	5	31
Runs	38	442
Wickets	0	19
Average	–	23.26
Strike Rate	–	20.3

Akila Dananjaya

Akila Dananjaya, the Sri Lankan off-break bowler, is a unique talent in T20 cricket. His deceptive bowling variations and ability to control the run flow make him a valuable asset for the Sri Lankan team. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	33	123
Runs	65	212
Innings	16	50
Not Out	8	21
Balls Faced	72	256
High Score	11	28
Average	8.12	7.31
Strike Rate	90.27	82.81
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	33	123
Balls	701	2455
Innings	33	116
Runs	965	3053
Wickets	30	138
Average	32.16	22.12
Strike Rate	23.3	17.7

Dhananjaya de Silva

Dhananjaya de Silva, the Sri Lankan right-handed batsman and right-arm off-break bowler, is a valuable all-rounder in T20 cricket. His ability to contribute significantly with both bat and ball makes him a versatile asset for the Sri Lankan team. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	43	118
Runs	792	2325
Innings	42	109
Not Out	4	13
Balls Faced	679	1839
High Score	66	81
Average	20.84	24.21
Strike Rate	116.64	126.42
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	43	118
Balls	274	1031
Innings	24	74
Runs	316	1227
Wickets	15	49
Average	21.06	25.04
Strike Rate	18.2	21

Angelo Mathews

Angelo Mathews is a Sri Lankan cricketing legend, renowned for his impactful contributions across all formats. His greatest strength is his well-rounded skillset. He can bat aggressively in the middle order, contribute with his tight medium-pace bowling, and even chip in with handy fielding. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	87	205
Runs	1354	3453
Innings	70	175
Not Out	21	44
Balls Faced	1125	23111
High Score	81	81
Average	27.63	26.35
Strike Rate	120.35	121.62
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	87	205
Balls	1139	2448
Innings	70	150
Runs	1353	3043
Wickets	45	99
Average	30.06	30.76
Strike Rate	25.3	24.7

Kamindu Mendis

Kamindu Mendis, the young Sri Lankan left-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, is rapidly carving a niche in the exciting world of T20 cricket. While his international career is still blooming, Mendis has showcased glimpses of brilliance, making him a player to watch out for. 

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	10	66
Runs	209	1294
Innings	9	55
Not Out	1	6
Balls Faced	154	1040
High Score	65	99
Average	26.12	26.4
Strike Rate	135.71	124.42
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	10	66
Balls	48	570
Innings	4	41
Runs	70	746
Wickets	0	15
Average	–	49.73
Strike Rate	8.75	7.85

Dasun Shanaka

Dasun Shanaka is a vital cog in the Sri Lankan T20 cricket team, known for his aggressive batting and handy medium-pace bowling. While his stats might not always reflect it, he brings valuable energy and leadership to the team.  

Batting
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	97	212
Runs	1444	4076
Innings	89	195
Not Out	20	46
Balls Faced	1170	2908
High Score	74	131
Average	20.92	27.35
Strike Rate	123.41	140.16
Bowling
	T20Is	T20s
Matches	97	212
Balls	486	1290
Innings	49	111
Runs	680	1903
Wickets	31	74
Average	21.93	25.71
Strike Rate	15.6	17.4

South Africa T20 Cricket Team Winning Records

Team	Opposition	Span	Total Matches	Won	Lost	No Result
Sri Lanka	UAE	2016 – 2022	2	2	0	0
Sri Lanka	Afghanistan	2016 – 2024	8	5	3	0
Sri Lanka	West Indies	2009 – 2021	15	8	7	0
Sri Lanka	Zimbabwe	2008 – 2024	6	5	1	0
Sri Lanka	New Zealand	2006 – 2023	23	9	13	1
Sri Lanka	India	2009 – 2023	29	9	19	1
Sri Lanka	South Africa	2012 – 2021	17	5	12	0
Sri Lanka	Australia	2007 – 2022	26	10	16	0
Sri Lanka	England	2006 – 2022	14	4	10	0
Sri Lanka	Bangladesh	2007 – 2024	16	11	5	0
Sri Lanka	Netherlands	2014 – 2022	3	3	0	0
Sri Lanka	Ireland	2009 – 2023	3	3	0	0
Sri Lanka	Pakistan	2007 – 2022	23	10	13	0
Sri Lanka	Canada	2008	1	1	0	0
Sri Lanka	Kenya	2007	1	1	0	0
Sri Lanka	Namibia	2021 – 2022	2	1	1	0

South Africa T20 Cricket Team  World Cup Records

Year	Total Matches	Won	Lost	Tied
2007 – 2008	5	3	2	0
2009	7	6	1	0
2010	6	3	3	0
2012 – 2013	7	4	2	1
2013 – 2014	6	5	1	0
2015 – 2016	4	1	3	0
2021 – 2022	8	5	3	0
2022 – 2023	8	4	4	0

South Africa T20 Cricket Team  Coach

Sri Lanka’s T20 coaching staff is going through a period of transition, blending experience with fresh outlooks. Here are the major players: 

Head Coach: Chris Silverwood

Chris Silverwood, a former English fast bowler, brings a ton of international experience to the job. He was England’s Test coach and has a specialization in developing bowling attacks. His mission is to lead Sri Lanka’s T20 team to victory by engaging in strategic planning as well as player development for overall team performance.

Assistant Coach: Naveed Nawaz

Naveed Nawaz, an ex-Sri Lankan cricketer, has been the assistant coach of the national side for many years now. His involvement in Sri Lanka’s cricket setup offers useful continuity and awareness about the strengths and weaknesses of individual players. He can help Silverwood implement policies while guiding the team.

Fast Bowling Coach: Aaqib Javed

Aaqib Javed who is Pakistani by nationality is also another former pace bowler; he was part of a World Cup-winning side and his knowledge and experience were helpful to Sri Lankan fast bowlers when they got their skills refined on how to do this from him. Dilshan Madushanka and Nuwan Thushara are examples of fine bowlers that can assist in raising their speed, accuracy and variations so that they become more dangerous mechanisms in T20 encounters.