Sri Lankan bowlers take pasting in IPL – is that a worry?

• Ahead of T20I series against Bangladesh

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

One of the prime concerns of Sri Lanka when they begin their three-match T20I series with Bangladesh from 10 July is to get a winning combination to be a force to be reckoned with in the ICC T20 World Cup which they are due to co-host with India in February-March 2026.

Sri Lanka has around 20 T20Is to prepare their side for this mega event. Apart from the home series against Bangladesh, their lead up to the World Cup includes two three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan both away and a five-match T20I series with England at home close to the World Cup. There will also be another 6-7 matches of the Asia Cup which will be played in the T20I format that India is due to host in September.

The big challenge for Sri Lanka in the coming months is to improve their team rankings. While they have enhanced their rankings in the ODIs (4th) and Tests (6th) they have been languishing at 8th in the T20I format for several years due to a lack of consistency in their performances.

Since the last T20 World Cup held in the Caribbean and USA in June 2024, Sri Lanka has played 11 T20Is and won 4 and lost 7. Their last T20I took place at Nelson where they beat New Zealand by 7 runs.

There are several factors leading towards this. One of the areas they have somewhat managed to sort out is a settled batting line-up from 1-5. From the home series against West Indies onwards they have stuck to it but the performances have not been consistent. 1-5 comprises Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis/Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka. The problem lies with the lower order where they lack pinch hitters who can clear the boundary at will in the death overs. This has led to Sri Lanka being unable to put up decent totals and giving their bowlers a chance to either bowl the opposition out or to restrict them to scores below theirs.

Number 6 position has been a sore point. They discarded Dasun Shanaka from that position after their 3-0 home series loss to India and replaced him with Bhanuka Rajapaksa who has failed to fit the bill in the six matches he got an opportunity to bat. That’s one crucial area which Sri Lanka has to sort out before the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Sri Lanka has a combination of match winning bowlers in the likes of Nuwan Thushara, Binura Fernando, Matheesha Pathirana, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage in their ranks.

Four of these bowlers figure in the ongoing IPL for different franchises but their individual performances have not been very encouraging with their economy rates all being above 9 runs an over.

Pathirana for instance has bowled so many wides that has cost Chennai Super Kings dearly that they are at the bottom of the table in 10th position. The 12 wickets Pathirana has taken in 10 matches has come at an economy rate of 10.17 and he has bowled the most number of wides by any bowler in the present tournament – 29. Pathirana has a history of bowling 88 wides since the start of the IPL 2023 making him the bowler with the most wides in that period. Some reports suggest that his slingy action may be a contributory factor to these wides. If Pathirana is to be a key figure in Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign the sooner his problem is addressed the better.

Spin twins Hasaranga and Theekshana who appear for Rajasthan Royals have also not been at their best which has resulted in their team lying 9th in the table. In nine matches, Hasaranga has captured 10 wickets at an economy rate of 9.14, while Theekshana’s 11 wickets in 11 matches has come at 9.76.

Thushara who is with Royal Challengers Bengaluru has yet to play a match in the current tournament while injury prone fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera who is with Delhi Capitals has an economy rate of 11.09 for his three wickets in five matches. Against top class opposition in the IPL which features so many international stars, the Lankan bowlers have not been able to produce their best, which may not be a concern against Bangladesh in the upcoming home series but in the T20 World Cup.