Sri Lanka Seek Tangible Progress After Signs of Promise

Sri Lanka arrive at the T20 World Cup on the back of five straight wins, though on slower surfaces in Bangladesh and the Caribbean. Their limited experience in SENA conditions—just three matches in New Zealand in this two-year cycle—makes them tricky to assess. A youthful squad, without veteran spinner Inoka Ranaweera, adds intrigue as they aim to break new ground in a competition where they have never progressed beyond the group stage.

Squad: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Imesha Dulani, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Hansima Karunarathne, Kaushini Nuthyangana, Sugandika Kumari, Nimasha Madushani, Kawya Kavindi, Malki Madara, Mithali Ayodhya, Chethana Vimukthi

Best XI: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Hasini Perera (wk), Imesha Dulani, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hansima Karunaratne, Nilakshika Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Kaushani Nuthyangana (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Mithali Ayodhya, Malki Madara

Players to keep an eye on:

• Malki Madara: The 25-year-old right-arm pacer impressed on debut with a three-wicket haul in Christchurch last March and was among wickets in the Caribbean. She will be key with the ball in English conditions.

• Harshitha Samarawickrama: The 27-year-old, Player of the Match in the Asia Cup final victory over India a few years ago, comes into the tournament on solid runs in her last three T20Is. She will be crucial in the middle order, especially if early trouble arises in conditions where the new ball can do damage.

What's in the news: A late change to Sri Lanka's squad: 17-year-old ambidextrous wristspinner Shashini Gimhani ruled out with a lower-back injury. Uncapped seamer Chethana Vimukthi drafted in as her replacement, adding pace ahead of their opener against England.

Where they finished in 2024: Sri Lanka ended at the bottom of a challenging group featuring Australia, New Zealand, India, and Pakistan, failing to win any of their four fixtures.

How have they performed since then: In this World Cup cycle, Sri Lanka won six of 14 matches, with two washouts.

The big game: Their clash against the West Indies—often boom or bust—could decide the top-two semifinalists from the group.

A record in sight: Chamari Athapaththu needs 248 runs to reach 4000 T20I runs, becoming only the fourth women's player to do so.

Realistic expectation: After a winless campaign at the last World Cup, Sri Lanka will aim for several victories while giving their next generation valuable exposure on the big stage.