Sri Lanka has easily moved into the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, thanks to a clear game plan and solid performances, according to batting coach Vikram Rathour. He emphasized that the team’s success was built long before the tournament started, avoiding overanalysis of recent results.
Before Sri Lanka’s final group match against Zimbabwe, Rathour stated that the coaching staff never felt the need to change direction, even after tough moments like the clean sweep loss in England earlier this year.
“In terms of addressing issues, I don’t think there were any issues. Every team has good days and bad days. As long as we focus on our improvement areas, I wasn’t too worried about the outcomes in the England series. Our preparations are unchanged,” Rathour said, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
This calm approach has led to strong batting displays in the group stage. Pathum Nissanka, who came into the tournament without a significant score in five innings, scored a commanding century against Australia. Meanwhile, Kusal Mendis began the campaign with consistent scoring, posting three consecutive half-centuries.
Rathour credited execution over inspiration for these performances.
“It’s been impressive. We played almost a perfect batting innings. Pathum delivered one of the standout T20 innings, and Kusal has been consistently excellent. Pawan [Rathnayake] also performed well. Everything went as planned,” Rathour mentioned.
Rathnayake’s recent success has brought more depth to Sri Lanka’s middle order. Though early in his T20I career, he has already delivered significant innings, including a quick 60 against Oman and an unbeaten 28 versus Australia.
“My advice has been simple. He’s a strong player against spin. He plays well and knows when to be aggressive, whether it’s the first ball or later in the innings. He seems to have taken that advice on board,” he noted.
Rathour also shared his views on handling performance pressure, highlighting the difference between confidence and self-belief.
“I don’t really believe in confidence because it depends on results. It’s essential for players and teams to have self-belief. Even if Pathum gets two ducks, he’s still a talented player. That doesn’t change,” he stated.
This mindset also reflects Sri Lanka’s selection strategy. With Kamil Mishara competing for a position alongside experienced player Kusal Perera, Rathour stressed the importance of patience.
“Mishara is talented, but consistency can sometimes be questioned. KJP is also a capable player who can make an impact. We want to evaluate both of them, and one poor performance doesn’t define them. We aim to give Mishara more chances, hoping he performs well,” he added.
As the tournament moves from Pallekele to Khettarama, where the batting will require more flexibility, Rathour dismissed any negative framing of conditions.
“I once read that these aren’t tough conditions but different ones. Negative thinking can hinder performance. Our batting unit has the skills to adapt,” he concluded.
