Expectations
After reaching the Asia Cup final in 2023 with a depleted squad due to injuries to key players, Sri Lanka will enter the World Cup as a dark horse. The Dasun Shanaka-led side will look to utilize the spin-friendly conditions in India, which should suit their strategy. While the Lankans will miss two key bowlers — Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera — they have time and again shown they can make bigger teams sweat.
Where they finished last time
Sri Lanka finished sixth in 2019 after winning just three of their nine league-stage matches. It was a forgettable tournament for them, but they have come a long way since after Shanaka took up captaincy of the limited-over side.
Strengths and weaknesses
Spin department: Despite missing their most important spinner and all-rounder Hasaranga, the troika of Maheesh Theekshana, Dhananjaya De Silva and Dunith Wellalage are capable of causing major damages to any batting unit. Ask India what happened in the Asia Cup group stage match! While there are still doubts over Theekshana’s participation in the first couple of matches owing to a hamstring injury, the spin department is Sri Lanka’s strongest asset. They have an off-spinner in Charith Asalanka as well!
Dasun Shanaka’s captaincy: Shanaka has been one of the most underrated captains in world cricket for a while now. So much so that the Sri Lankan board had to sit together and discuss whether to sack the all-rounder from leadership duties after their embarrassing defeat against India in the Asia Cup final. However, he has been trusted to guide the team in India for the showpiece event. So expect some shrewd calls, tactical brilliance and of course, all eyes will be on Shanaka the all-rounder as well as he looks to bounce back after a few months of a lean patch.
Batting inconsistency: This Sri Lankan batch is a talented one. Be it a Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, the experienced Kusal Mendis, Dhananjay De Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama and others, the board and fans have put a lot of faith in these players. Though they have shown flashes of brilliance with some breathtaking knocks, inconsistency has hurt the team more often than not.
Star turn
A couple of household names in India now, thanks to their exploits in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings — Theekshana and Matheesha Pathirana — a duo trusted by MS Dhoni. While both Theekshana and Pathirana have delivered the goods for the Yellow Army, it is time for them to step up in their national jersey and without Dhoni behind the stumps. Having decent experience of playing in different conditions in India, all eyes will be on Theekshana and Pathirana with their mystery and trickery.
New kid on the block
A name which popped up with some eye-catching performances in the last Under-19 World Cup, but took the cricket world by storm by scalping a fifer against India — Dunith Wellalage. An extremely talented all-rounder who has shown promise. With a mature head on his young shoulders, this could be the tournament for ‘Wella’ to take his career to a next level.
Where they should finish
Sri Lanka will push for a semi-final finish, but without Hasaranga and Chameera, they could find themselves short of experience and quality with the ball. Another injury or niggle here or there, and they could be in big trouble. If the players are fit and firing, they are capable of giving some major teams a run for their money.
Match schedule
October 7: Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Delhi
October 12: Sri Lanka vs Pakistan, Hyderabad
October 16: Sri Lanka vs Australia, Lucknow
October 21: Sri Lanka vs Netherlands, Lucknow
October 26: Sri Lanka vs England, Bengaluru
October 30: Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan, Pune
November 2: Sri Lanka vs India, Mumbai
November 6: Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh, Delhi
November 9: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Bengaluru
Full squad
Dasun Shanaka (C), Kusal Mendis (VC), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushan Hemantha, Dilshan Madushanka.
Likely first-choice XI
Dasun Shanaka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara/Dilshan Madushanka.