New Delhi [India], A young and exciting Sri Lankan team will aim to open their ICC T20 World Cup campaign against South Africa in New York on Monday.
Sri Lanka is part of Group D along with South Africa, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. In the last T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, Sri Lanka could not progress beyond the group stage, finishing fourth in Group One with two wins and three losses.
Ahead of the Sri Lanka-South Africa match, let's take a look at the form, talking points and key players of the Lankan Lions: India tour of Sri Lanka (January 2023):
India started the domestic season with a bang by winning the three-match T20 series 2-1. The highlight of this series was, once again, Suryakumar's inning of 112* off 51 balls in the third T20I and some excellent all-round performances from Axar Patel.Sri Lanka lost the first T20I by just two runs and then captain Dasun Shanaka's all-round (56* and 2/4) helped Lanka defend the target of 207 in the second game. However, chasing 229, Sri Lanka lost the decider by 91 runs.
-New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka (April 2023) Sri Lanka lost this hard-fought series 2-1. The 2022 Asia Cup champions started with a win in the Super Over, with Charith Asalanka scoring the winning runs. However, in the next two matches, the Kiwis proved better while chasing, first chasing 142 runs with nine wickets remaining and then reaching the winning score of 183 runs with four wickets and one ball remaining in the final T20I. Went.
-Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe (January 2024)
The return home proved to be game-changing for Sri Lanka, who were struggling for momentum.They started with a seven-wicket win while chasing 144 in the first T20I to win the series 2–1. However, Zimbabwe made a strong comeback chasing 174 in the second T20I, with Craig Erwin scoring 70 off 54 balls. In the last T20 match, Zimbabwe was bundled out for just 82 runs, which was easily achieved by the Sri Lankan team.-Sri Lanka tour of Afghanistan (February 2024)
Sri Lanka continued its winning streak at home by winning the series against Afghanistan 2-1. Despite Ibrahim Zadran's 67*, Sri Lanka defended 161 runs against a spirited Afghanistan team to win the first T20I by four runs.After narrowly avoiding defeat, Sri Lanka came back with a better performance in the second game and defended 183 runs, restricting Afghanistan to 115 runs. Afghanistan got a consolation series win in the final T20I, preventing Sri Lanka from chasing 210 and leaving them three runs short. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a brilliant 70 runs in 43 balls in this match.
-Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh (March 2024)Sri Lanka completed their T20 World Cup preparations with an impressive 2-1 win over Bangladesh, who have recently emerged as a strong rival to the Lankan Lions. In the first T20I, Sri Lanka helped Charith Asalanka's 44* off 21 balls to stop Bangladesh from chasing 207 runs, with six sixes separating the teams. In the second T20I, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto scored 53* to help Bangladesh chase down 166, setting up the decider.In the final T20 match, Bangladesh fell 28 runs short of the target of 175 runs set by Sri Lanka and were bowled out for 146 runs. Sri Lanka won the series.
Talking points for Sri Lanka ahead of the tournament:
-Kusal Mendis' explosive start is a big bonus for Sri Lanka. -Excellent form from their top spinners, Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Theekshana.
-The X-factor is presented by young fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana, with his slingy, Malinga-like action.
-Return of experienced and in-form Angelo Mathews to the team.-Inconsistent and underwhelming batting from Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum Nissanka since the last T20 World Cup, scoring only 166 and 216 runs in 10 and 12 innings respectively. Their averages and strike rates (21.60 and 128.57 for Nissanka) and (18.44 and 128.68) do not inspire much confidence.
-Dilshan Madhushanka, who performed brilliantly in CWC 2023, has been performing tremendously in T20Is since 2023. He has taken eight wickets in eight matches at an average of 34.75, economy rate of 10.69 and strike rate of 19.50. Best figures are 2/45
*Top performers for Sri Lanka since the last T20 World Cup in 2022:- Kusal Mendis: 495 runs in 15 matches and innings at an average of 33.00 and strike rate of 150.91, best score 86.-Angelo Mathews: 206 runs in nine matches and seven innings at an average of 51.50, strike rate of 137.33, with one half-century. Best score 66*. 7 wickets at an average of 21.85 and economy rate of 8.34, with best figures of 2/9.
-Charith Asalanka: 329 runs in 13 matches at an average of 27.41 and strike rate of 143.04, with two fifties. Best score 69.-Wanindu Hasaranga: 177 runs, one half-century and best score of 67 in 13 matches and 12 innings at an average of 19.66 and strike rate of 170.19.18 wickets at an average of 20.72 and economy rate of 7.46, best figures of 4/15.
-Mahesh Theekshana: 13 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 30.00 and economy rate of 7.06, with best figures of 2/14.
Sri Lanka T20 World Cup squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (captain), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadira Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjay de Silva, Mahish Theekshana, Dunith Vellaage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Mathisha. Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka. Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viakanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Zenith Liyanage.
Sri Lanka is part of Group D along with South Africa, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Nepal. In the last T20 World Cup in Australia in 2022, Sri Lanka could not progress beyond the group stage, finishing fourth in Group One with two wins and three losses.
Ahead of the Sri Lanka-South Africa match, let's take a look at the form, talking points and key players of the Lankan Lions: India tour of Sri Lanka (January 2023):
India started the domestic season with a bang by winning the three-match T20 series 2-1. The highlight of this series was, once again, Suryakumar's inning of 112* off 51 balls in the third T20I and some excellent all-round performances from Axar Patel.Sri Lanka lost the first T20I by just two runs and then captain Dasun Shanaka's all-round (56* and 2/4) helped Lanka defend the target of 207 in the second game. However, chasing 229, Sri Lanka lost the decider by 91 runs.
-New Zealand's tour of Sri Lanka (April 2023) Sri Lanka lost this hard-fought series 2-1. The 2022 Asia Cup champions started with a win in the Super Over, with Charith Asalanka scoring the winning runs. However, in the next two matches, the Kiwis proved better while chasing, first chasing 142 runs with nine wickets remaining and then reaching the winning score of 183 runs with four wickets and one ball remaining in the final T20I. Went.
-Sri Lanka tour of Zimbabwe (January 2024)
The return home proved to be game-changing for Sri Lanka, who were struggling for momentum.They started with a seven-wicket win while chasing 144 in the first T20I to win the series 2–1. However, Zimbabwe made a strong comeback chasing 174 in the second T20I, with Craig Erwin scoring 70 off 54 balls. In the last T20 match, Zimbabwe was bundled out for just 82 runs, which was easily achieved by the Sri Lankan team.-Sri Lanka tour of Afghanistan (February 2024)
Sri Lanka continued its winning streak at home by winning the series against Afghanistan 2-1. Despite Ibrahim Zadran's 67*, Sri Lanka defended 161 runs against a spirited Afghanistan team to win the first T20I by four runs.After narrowly avoiding defeat, Sri Lanka came back with a better performance in the second game and defended 183 runs, restricting Afghanistan to 115 runs. Afghanistan got a consolation series win in the final T20I, preventing Sri Lanka from chasing 210 and leaving them three runs short. Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored a brilliant 70 runs in 43 balls in this match.
-Sri Lanka tour of Bangladesh (March 2024)Sri Lanka completed their T20 World Cup preparations with an impressive 2-1 win over Bangladesh, who have recently emerged as a strong rival to the Lankan Lions. In the first T20I, Sri Lanka helped Charith Asalanka's 44* off 21 balls to stop Bangladesh from chasing 207 runs, with six sixes separating the teams. In the second T20I, captain Nazmul Hossain Shanto scored 53* to help Bangladesh chase down 166, setting up the decider.In the final T20 match, Bangladesh fell 28 runs short of the target of 175 runs set by Sri Lanka and were bowled out for 146 runs. Sri Lanka won the series.
Talking points for Sri Lanka ahead of the tournament:
-Kusal Mendis' explosive start is a big bonus for Sri Lanka. -Excellent form from their top spinners, Wanindu Hasaranga and Mahesh Theekshana.
-The X-factor is presented by young fast bowler Mathisha Pathirana, with his slingy, Malinga-like action.
-Return of experienced and in-form Angelo Mathews to the team.-Inconsistent and underwhelming batting from Dhananjaya de Silva and Pathum Nissanka since the last T20 World Cup, scoring only 166 and 216 runs in 10 and 12 innings respectively. Their averages and strike rates (21.60 and 128.57 for Nissanka) and (18.44 and 128.68) do not inspire much confidence.
-Dilshan Madhushanka, who performed brilliantly in CWC 2023, has been performing tremendously in T20Is since 2023. He has taken eight wickets in eight matches at an average of 34.75, economy rate of 10.69 and strike rate of 19.50. Best figures are 2/45
*Top performers for Sri Lanka since the last T20 World Cup in 2022:- Kusal Mendis: 495 runs in 15 matches and innings at an average of 33.00 and strike rate of 150.91, best score 86.-Angelo Mathews: 206 runs in nine matches and seven innings at an average of 51.50, strike rate of 137.33, with one half-century. Best score 66*. 7 wickets at an average of 21.85 and economy rate of 8.34, with best figures of 2/9.
-Charith Asalanka: 329 runs in 13 matches at an average of 27.41 and strike rate of 143.04, with two fifties. Best score 69.-Wanindu Hasaranga: 177 runs, one half-century and best score of 67 in 13 matches and 12 innings at an average of 19.66 and strike rate of 170.19.18 wickets at an average of 20.72 and economy rate of 7.46, best figures of 4/15.
-Mahesh Theekshana: 13 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 30.00 and economy rate of 7.06, with best figures of 2/14.
Sri Lanka T20 World Cup squad: Wanindu Hasaranga (captain), Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Sadira Samarawickrama, Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjay de Silva, Mahish Theekshana, Dunith Vellaage, Dushmantha Chameera, Nuwan Thushara, Mathisha. Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka. Traveling Reserves: Asitha Fernando, Vijayakanth Viakanth, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Zenith Liyanage.
