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Sri Lanka’s Chairman of Selectors, Upul Tharanga, has vowed to overhaul the national T20 side after a humbling 2-1 series defeat to Bangladesh — their first ever against the neighbours in the shortest format. With the next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup on home soil just over a year away, Tharanga is pushing for urgent course correction.
Tharanga admitted in an interview, “We’ve simply been too inconsistent with the bat. We’ve tried different combinations, but it’s time to bring in fresh blood.”
Sri Lanka’s recent collapse in Dambulla, where they were bundled out for just 94 — their lowest T20 total at home — was followed by a limp 132 in the series decider in Colombo. It left fans stunned and exposed the chronic frailties in the middle order, especially under pressure.
Tharanga, a former captain and World Cup winner, has overseen commendable progress in Tests and ODIs since taking over as chief selector. But in T20Is, he concedes the team is lagging. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the marquee event in 2026, he knows time is slipping.
Among the names knocking on the door are Nuwanidu Fernando and Pawan Rathnayake — two domestic standouts who may soon get their big break.
“They’ve earned their chances. We need energy, hunger, and composure — especially in the middle overs,” he said.
One player already in the system who could be handed greater responsibility is Janith Liyanage. A consistent performer in ODIs at number six, Liyanage is now being assessed for a similar role in T20s.
“He’s not a power-hitter, but he reads the game well,” said Tharanga.
“He adds value as a fielder and a calm presence when things get tense,” he added.
With a deep pace pool at their disposal, Sri Lanka faces a different challenge: who to leave out. Only two frontline pacers are likely to be picked in the playing XI, making it tough for express bowlers like Matheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera to feature regularly.
Tharanga hinted at a rotation policy to both preserve fitness and inject variety.
“We have options, but balance is key. You can’t pick everyone, so we need to be smart about who plays when,” he stated.
Perhaps the most glaring issue is Sri Lanka’s lack of firepower with the bat. Unlike other top teams, the islanders still struggle to clear the boundary consistently.
“Even in 2014, when we won the title, we weren’t reliant on brute force. It was about smart cricket – rotating strike, finding gaps, reading situations. That’s missing now, especially in the middle overs,” Tharanga said.
To address that void, Sri Lanka has brought in renowned English power-hitting coach Julian Wood on a short-term assignment. Wood, a former Hampshire batter, has worked with IPL franchises and international teams, focusing on improving strike rates and power output.
“It’s a good move,” said Tharanga.
“The boys must absorb as much as they can. T20 cricket is evolving, and we need to keep up,” he further said.
The run-up to the World Cup offers plenty of opportunities to rebuild. Sri Lanka will face England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe in upcoming series, with the Asia Cup looming and a potential home series against India on the cards next month.
“Every series from here on is a platform to experiment, refine and commit to a core group,” Tharanga said.
“We’re not far off – but it will take bold decisions, patience, and a bit of risk. We owe that to our fans,” he concluded.
