In the T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosts are aiming to regain their past success at home, and Sri Lanka has made an impressive showing. Led by Dasun Shanaka, the team has taken advantage of the spin-friendly pitches in Colombo and Kandy, defeating their early opponents and proving they are strong competitors in T20 Cricket. The spotlight, however, is also on Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who has raised eyebrows with his remarks about ‘rubber-layered’ bats used by Indian players.
T20 World Cup 2026: Sri Lanka’s Bhanuka Rajapaksa questions bats used by Indian players
The issue escalated on February 10, 2026, when Rajapaksa stated in an interview with News Wire that Indian batsmen are using equipment that seems to break the laws of physics. In a tournament filled with high-scoring matches on sub-continental pitches, the Sri Lankan player expressed disbelief at how easily Indian players hit sixes.
“Indian players have bats that are far better than those available to us. It feels like there is a rubber layer on them. I can’t believe that’s possible. These bats aren’t available for everyone, and all players know this,” Rajapaksa noted.
Even though the ICC has strict regulations for equipment, Rajapaksa’s comments have sparked a considerable discussion about whether advancements in bat technology have led to an uneven playing field in modern T20 cricket.