Sri Lanka have named a strong 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. Captained by Wanindu Hasaranga, the island nation is stacked with all-rounders who can do the job for the team when required. Insidesport looks at each one of the 15-man squad and rates them.
Batters
Kusal Mendis (6/10)
(M – 64 R – 1554 AVG – 25.06 SR – 135.72 100 – 0 50 – 14)
Kusal Mendis is a wicketkeeper-batter for the Sri Lankan side who opens the innings. He can be quite a handful on his day, as proven in the last T20I match Sr Lanka played against Bangladesh. Kusal scored a 55-ball 86 that tilted the tie in Sri Lanka’s favour. He is likely to be Sri Lanka’s first choice wicketkeeper in the T20 WC.
Pathum Nissanka (4/10)
Pathum Nissanka is a top order batter for the island nation and can be trusted to anchor the innings when required. However, his strike rate of 116 might be a worry for Sri Lanka going into the tournament. He will likely be on the bench for Sri Lanka in the T20 World Cup.
Sadeera Samarawickrama (4/10)
Sadeera Samarawickrama is the second wicketkeeper of the Sri Lanka’s 15-man team for the T20 World Cup. He is vastly inexperienced and is far below the pecking order to Kusal Mendis. So don’t expect to see him in the starting line-up unless Mendis suffers an injury.
Bowlers
Maheesh Theekshana (6/10)
Maheesh Theekshana is an off-break bowler who can take wickets as well as control the flow of runs when needed. He has been instrumental for Sri Lanka in the last few years and will likely find himself in the starting XI in the T20 World Cup. His economy rate of under 7 is a major boost for Sri Lanka going into the T20 World Cup.
Dunith Wellalage (4/10)
Dunith Wellalage is a young slow left-arm orthodox spinner who has found his place in Sri Lanka’s 15-man side for the T20 World Cup. He is yet to make his T20I debut for Sri Lanka but has played in a Test and ODIs for the national team. With a host of stars in the T20 team, it looks tough for him to make it to the playing XI.
Dushmantha Chameera (6/10)
Dushmantha Chameera is a right arm fast bowler who has the ability to swing the ball. He is an effective bowler on grounds where the pitch offers something to the bowlers but his economy rate of over 8 suggests that batters can easily pick on him in flat surfaces.
Matheesha Pathirana (7/10)
Matheesha Pathirana is the x-factor of the Sri Lankan team. The sling-action bowler impressed one and all with his fiery bowling in the IPL for Chennai Super Kings. Even though he has played only 6 T20Is for Sri Lanka till now, it would come as a surprise if he does not find himself in the starting XI in the T20 World Cup.
Nuwan Thushara (7/10)
Nuwan Thushara another one to look out for in the Sri Lankan set up. He had a decent season with Mumbai Indians in IPL, taking 8 wickets in 7 matches. The right arm medium fast bowler would look to make a mark in the T20 World Cup with the whole world watching on.
Dilshan Madushanka (6/10)
Dilshan Madushanka is the lone left-arm pacer in the Sri Lankan squad for the T20 World Cup. The bowler, in spite of his high economy rate of almost 10, will be instrumental to Sri Lanka’s success in the T20 World Cup.
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All-rounders
Wanindu Hasaranga (8/10)
The captain of the side, Sri Lanka’s final position in the T20 World Cup will depend a lot on Wanindu Hasaranga’s form. The leg-break bowler is capable of hitting big shots down the order. He will have to be on the peak of his form if Sri Lanka want to go far in the tournament.
Charith Asalanka (5/10)
Charith Asalanka is a batting allrounder who bowls only when the team needs him. The southpaw bats in the middle order but has a strike rate of just over 125 which is not ideal for the side.
Kamindu Mendis (5/10)
Kamindu Mendis is another batting allrounder who has not quite been able to get his career going for the national side. The batter although has big shots within him and can come in handy when Sri Lanka have a big score to chase.
Angelo Mathews (8/10)
Angelo Mathews is the most experienced campaigner of the Sri Lankan side. The ex-captain is a jack of all trades. In bowling, he can bowl with the new ball as well as in the middle overs. This will be his 6th T20 World Cup appearance, having been part of the team’s victorious campaign in 2014.
Dasun Shanaka (7/10)
Believe it or not, Dasun Shanaka has more T20I games under his belt than Angelo Mathews. The vastly-experienced all-rounder can take the game to the opposition on his day and is capable of taking wickets when it matters.
Dhananjaya de Silva (7/10)
Dhananjaya de Silva is a proper all-rounder who opens the batting for Sri Lanka along with Kusal Mendis. He is also a handy off-break bowler who has an excellent economy rate of under 7. He will be a deciding factor in Sri Lanka’s success of failure in the T20 World Cup.
