Exclusive: Sri Lanka Must Fix Middle-Order to Challenge at T20 World Cup, Warns Champaka Ramanayake

Sri Lanka hasn't won an ICC tournament since the T20 World Cup in 2014. 

The retirements of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, and Lasith Malinga created a significant void that took years to fill. Now, after a decade, under head coach Sanath Jayasuriya, one of the greatest Sri Lankan all-rounders and a World Cup winner, the islanders have a renewed sense of purpose to be a strong contender for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which they are co-hosting with India. 

The Jayasuriya factor helped them win an ODI series 2-0 against India at home, a Test series 2-0 against New Zealand at home, and a solitary Test match in England. 

Recently, they lost a T20I series 1-2 to Bangladesh, which helped identify the gaps and build a robust T20I team for the ICC showpiece. 

The Asia Cup T20, starting September 9, will be a litmus test.

Bring in youngsters, bolster the middle-order

Former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake, a respected international coach, felt Charith Asalanka's team needed a few changes to strengthen the middle-order. 

"I would love to see a few youngsters in the team replace one or two players from the current T20 squad. We have a problem in the batting department in T20 cricket. Except for Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka, we have a problem in the middle-order up to No. 7, and we need to sort that out. There is a vacuum. The strike rate has been poor. It is the ideal time to test a few youngsters as there is a World Cup next year," he told SportsBoom.com. 

Ramanayake, who coached Sri Lanka and Bangladesh a few years ago, called for the inclusion of Nuwanidu Fernando and Pavan Rathnayake in the T20 squad. Twenty-five-year-old Fernando scored a couple of first-class centuries (102 and 104*) for Sri Lanka A against Australia A in Darwin. On returning home, he smashed two unbeaten T20 fifties in the SLC T20 League. He has already played five ODIs and a T20I.

On the other hand, uncapped Rathnayake, 22, scored a List A century (158* off 94 balls) for Colombo Cricket Club in the final of the Major Clubs Limited Overs Tournament, besides a century against Australia A. 

"I have followed their journey. They have been scoring consistently in domestic cricket and Sri Lanka A, and whenever they have had opportunities. I feel this is the right time to do it."

Chandimal to rescue in T20Is?

Ramanayake has played 18 Tests and 62 ODIs for Sri Lanka, and has shared the dressing room with legends such as Arjuna Ranatunga, Aravinda De Silva, Roshan Mahanama and Muttiah Muralitharan. He understands the importance of experienced cricketers in big tournaments, and batted for the inclusion of Dinesh Chandimal in T20Is. 

The senior pro recently appeared in a T20I against Bangladesh in July after three years on the back of a power-packed show at the Lanka Premier League in 2024, where he scored 287 runs at a strike rate of 168.82, far better than his T20I strike rate of 103.49. 

"You have Chandimal if you need to form a leadership group along with Asalanka. He has played a lot of cricket, and I think they should have him in the middle order. Even Mendis [Kusal] has been playing since 2015, when I was coaching them. Nissanka has earned respect by scoring runs. You do have experienced players in the side. Plus, Angelo Mathews has not retired from white-ball cricket in case the selectors want to look for experience."

Pathirana needs to improve with new ball

Ramanayake, who had developed Malinga into a strong speedster at the Sri Lanka Fast Bowling Academy back in the day, is satisfied with the bowling department, although he felt Matheesha Pathirana needs to improve with the new ball. 

"At the moment, we aren’t playing Pathirana because we are playing only two fast bowlers [Nuwan Thushara and Binura Fernando]. He cannot bowl with the new ball, and that’s an issue. He has to learn to bowl with the new ball. If three fast bowlers play, he can come and bowl after the 10th over. But we have a good pack of speedsters at the moment," he concluded.