Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe Live: Sri Lanka Bat First in T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka faced Zimbabwe in a crucial T20 World Cup 2026 match at the Premadasa Stadium. Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first. Both teams had already advanced to the Super Eight, but this game was vital for Sri Lanka to test new players due to injuries.
Sri Lanka’s Squad Changes
The highlight of Sri Lanka’s squad change was the inclusion of Dilshan Madushanka. He replaced Matheesha Pathirana, who suffered a calf injury during the previous match against Australia. Pramod Madushan was also brought in to bolster the bowling attack.
Team Line-ups
Sri Lanka’s starting XI consisted of:
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Perera
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Pavan Rathnayake
- Dasun Shanaka (capt.)
- Kamindu Mendis
- Dunith Wellalage
- Dushan Hemantha
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Pramod Madushan
- Dilshan Madushanka
Zimbabwe maintained their previous lineup, hoping to capitalize on favorable batting conditions later in the match. Their squad included:
- Brian Bennett
- Tadiwanashe Marumani (wk)
- Dion Myers
- Sikandar Raza (capt.)
- Ryan Burl
- Tony Munyonga
- Tashinga Musekiwa
- Brad Evans
- Wellington Masakadza
- Graeme Cremer
- Blessing Muzarabani
Match Conditions and Strategy
Zimbabwe had planned to field first due to expected drizzle later in the match. The strategy was to take advantage of better conditions for batting once the lights came on. Sri Lanka, however, aimed to establish a strong total to put pressure on the Zimbabwean side.
This match was pivotal as both teams sought to build momentum heading into the Super Eight stage of the tournament.
