Sri Lanka, one of the co-hosts, has a golden opportunity to lead the Super Eight stage in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The recent struggles of Australia, the top-ranked team in Group B, during their tour of Pakistan have not gone unnoticed. With the Aussies not performing at their peak, the door is wide open for other teams to make their mark and potentially cause some upsets.
Sri Lanka, a formidable cricketing powerhouse, currently holds the eighth spot in the ICC T20I Rankings. With top-ranked batsmen and the highly-rated bowler Wanindu Hasaranga leading the charge, Sri Lanka poses a significant threat to their competitors. Hasaranga, known for his leg-spin bowling, also plays a crucial role as the team’s key all-rounder.
Australia, sitting at the second spot in the T20I rankings, will have to face the challenge posed by Sri Lanka. After their defeat in Pakistan, the Australian team appears vulnerable and will need to up their game to compete effectively.
The other teams in Group B, including Ireland, Zimbabwe, and Oman, also have the chance to surprise the world and potentially cause some upsets during the tournament.
Pathum Nissanka, the Sri Lankan opener, made history as the 10th fastest player to reach 2000 runs in T20I cricket. His performance will be crucial in setting the tone for Sri Lanka’s batting innings as they aim for success in the tournament.
Nissanka boasts an average of just over 30 in 84 games with a strike rate of 127.25 against all opponents. In a recent series against England, he scored a total of 80 runs at a strike rate of 148.14.
With his impressive record, Nissanka ranks in the top 10 in T20I batting rankings. His aggressive approach, especially against Australia, could prove pivotal in the upcoming matches.
Keep an eye out for Nissanka’s signature switch hit technique, which has the potential to clear the ropes with ease.
Team Lineups:
Australia: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Ben Dwarshuis, Cameron Green, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Renshaw, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka: 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
Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (c), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Graeme Cremer, Bradley Evans, Clive Madande, Tinotenda Maposa, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Brendan Taylor
Ireland: Paul Stirling (c), Mark Adair, Ross Adair, Ben Calitz, Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Matthew Humphreys, Josh Little, Barry McCarthy, Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Lorcan Tucker, Ben White, Craig Young
Oman: Jatinder Singh (c), Vinayak Shukla, Mohammad Nadeem, Shakeel Ahmad, Hammad Mirza, Wasim Ali, Karan Sonavale, Shah Faisal, Nadeem Khan, Sufyan Mehmood, Jay Odedra, Shafiq Jan, Ashish Odedara, Jiten Ramanandi, Aamir Kaleem
