Former India batter Aakash Chopra has expressed concerns about Sri Lanka as they prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He described their current situation as unfortunate, citing a lack of team effort as a significant issue.
Sri Lanka, who won the WT20 in 2014, will enjoy home advantage this time and have a seemingly strong team. However, Chopra noted that their performance has been inconsistent in recent years.
“Their recent form has not been good. They haven’t performed well against any strong teams. Over the past year and a half, their only notable win against a big team was against New Zealand. It’s a disappointing situation. Many expected them to perform well in the Asia Cup, but they didn’t reach the finals as anticipated,” he stated on his YouTube channel.
Leadership changes have also affected the team, with Dasun Shanaka returning as captain after Charith Asalanka’s unsuccessful run in charge.
“Sri Lanka has not met expectations, leading to leadership changes. They brought back Dasun Shanaka as captain with the upcoming tournament in mind. Sri Lanka is facing its own challenges,” he added.
These issues arise during a phase of uneven results for Sri Lanka, including a recent series loss to England, where both their batting and bowling struggled under pressure.
Sri Lanka’s fast bowling is weak: Aakash Chopra
Chopra expressed that Sri Lanka’s fast bowling might pose problems, particularly if Eshan Malinga is not fit for the World Cup due to a shoulder injury sustained in the recent T20I series against England.
“The pace bowling attack could face challenges, especially if Eshan Malinga isn’t available. Matheesha Pathirana has been inconsistent, and Dushmantha Chameera performs better in favorable conditions, but there’s a vulnerability in their fast bowling overall,” he concluded.
Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament, are in Group B alongside Australia, Ireland, Oman, and Zimbabwe.
