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Follow UsThe Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 has given Sri Lankan cricket renewed hopes and a trajectory to travel towards in their run-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup. After failing to make it to the Super 8s in the T20 World Cup 2024, for the first time since its inception in 2007, Sri Lanka were pushed to the backfoot with Wanindu Hasaranga resigning as the skipper of the island nation's side.
However, LPL 2024 gave the Lankan selectors many options to infuse energy into a talented but lacklustre unit. They have gone back to senior players, given the captaincy to a talented all-round option, and brought in horses-for-courses into the side selected for the India series, beginning July 27 (Saturday) in Pallekele.
Why were seniors called back to the Sri Lankan side?
Dinesh Chandimal, who last featured for Sri Lanka in a T20I way back in February 2022, has been brought into the side on the back of a solid showing in the LPL 2024. The wicketkeeper-batter, who also led the national team for a brief period, amassed 287 runs in 10 innings at a strike rate of 168.82, opening the innings.
Along with 34-year-old Chandimal, Kusal Perera and Avishka Fernando are the other two senior members who have made it back to the national side after an impressive showing in the LPL. While left-handed Perera scored 296 runs at a strike rate of 169.14, Fernando 374 runs at 162.6.
These three players were not part of Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad. They are also top-order players, meaning that Pathum Nissanka will be under pressure to either improve his strike rate or get axed. The selection of Fernando, Perera, and Chandimal is a clear indication from the selectors that they want impact players in the side who get going from ball one.
Why were Mathews and de Silva axed?
Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, both of whom were part of the country’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, have been axed from the upcoming series. The selectors have made it clear that Mathews is no longer in their scheme of things as far as T20 cricket is concerned.
“During the brief time he [Mathews] was in the side after we brought him in, he played well. And in the LPL as well he did well as a finisher. But we need to look to the future. There's a big gap to fill when it comes to an allrounder in the side - we have about two or three new players in mind to slot into that role," Upul Tharanga, former player and part of the current selection committee, said in the press conference after the announcement of the team.
"We'll give them an opportunity and get them ready for the next World Cup,”
With this statement, Tharanga also clarified that they are looking towards the future. If de Silva performs well in the future, he might be picked; otherwise, they will look elsewhere.
Will Asalanka lift the spirits?
Continuing with this futuristic outlook, SLC awarded Charith Asalanka the captaincy of the side after leading Jaffna Kings to yet another LPL title.
The 27-year-old, who rose to prominence during India’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2021, has risen to the occasion, winning seven out of 11 matches as captain in the LPL and one out of two at the international level. Most importantly, his form doesn’t drop down while leading the side.
However, the past two Sri Lankan captains, Dasun Shanaka and Hasaranga, both who lost their captaincy after failed World Cup campaigns, are also part of this unit led by Asalanka. As a result, the left-handed batter, who also bowls right-arm off-spin, will be under tremendous pressure to succeed.
Ready to look beyond Chameera?
After being named in the team, Dushmantha Chameera had to be withdrawn due to illness. While he travelled with the team in the T20 World Cup 2024, the lanky pacer was unable to play even a single game. Injuries and Chmaeera have been such great buddies that they have hardly left each other's company since the right-arm pacer’s debut in international cricket in 2015.
In a career spanning nearly a decade, the 32-year-old has been able to play only 12 Tests, 52 ODIs and 55 T20Is, which makes an average of 13 games per year, which is too few for a top-class player.
The Islanders need to look past him now and focus on someone with less pace but more accuracy, maybe someone like Binura Fernando, as the first-choice strike bowler in playing 11 alongside Matheesha Pathirana and Nuwan Thushara (when he is fit). As of now, Thushara is out with injury and has been replaced by Asitha Fernando.
Since January 2022, Binura has taken 47 wickets in 38 T20s with an average of 21 and an economy rate of 7.20, which are brilliant numbers. Even in the recent LPL 2024, Binura took 13 wickets in eight games and had three three-wicket hauls in his kitty.
Wellalage's chance to come soon?
Dunith Wellalage was part of Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup squad, but all he did was warm the bench. Will he be given a consistent run from here on?
Wellalage, who led Sri Lanka at the 2022 U-19 World Cup, has picked 35 wickets in 40 matches and scored 319 runs at a strike rate of 113 in T20s. But the left-arm spinner has not got a chance to play T20Is yet.
With Hasaranga available as a leg break bowler and Theekshana as an off-spin carrom-bowler, it will be interesting to see if the Lankan coach and support staff think it a good idea to employ the 21-year-old as a third spin option, keeping in mind the 2026 T20 World Cup at home.
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