There were electrifying scenes in the picturesque town of Nelson, New Zealand, as Kusal Janith Perera lit up the holiday mood with a blazing century – the fastest ever by a Sri Lankan in T20 cricket. With his fearless and flamboyant stroke play, KJP kept the sold-out festive crowd perched on the edge of their seats, delivering entertainment in spades. It was a quintessential KJP masterclass, reminding everyone that this is a man born to enthrall.
Although this resounding victory offered Sri Lanka a consolation win in the dead rubber, the players were undoubtedly kicking themselves. This was a series they had no business losing. They had the opening game firmly in their grip, only to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory – a bitter pill to swallow.
It’s been over a decade since a Sri Lankan last scored a century in the shortest format of the game. One could argue that this drought of individual brilliance has played its part in the team languishing at eighth in the ICC T20 rankings. But with Sri Lanka set to co-host the T20 World Cup alongside India in 2026, there’s a growing sense that the team is piecing the puzzle together.
While T20 cricket remained a sore spot in 2024, the team made significant strides in both Test and ODI formats. If they can carry this momentum into 2025, Sri Lanka could emerge as serious title contenders for the 2026 World Cup.
KJP’s sensational hundred stole the headlines, but the openers—Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka—were consistent performers throughout the series. Both delivered top-drawer innings, even if their efforts fell just short of securing victories in the first two games.
Nissanka, ranked sixth in the ICC rankings for T20 batters, continues to be Sri Lanka’s shining star, with Kusal Mendis not far behind in the top ten. Charith Asalanka has also proven to be a dependable anchor in the middle order. Yet, the team management will hope for better partnerships to steady the ship around Asalanka during crunch moments.
In search of the right middle-order combination, the team has experimented with Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, and Kamindu Mendis. While none have seized the opportunity, Kamindu’s contributions in other formats warrant patience. Avishka, however, finds himself in an unfamiliar role. Tasked with adapting from his natural position as an opener, he’s been handed a steep learning curve. While flexibility is key in a team game, patience will be critical if the management expects him to thrive in this alien role.
Rajapaksa’s case, however, is a different kettle of fish. Slotted as the team’s finisher, the question looms: is he delivering what’s expected of him? Despite concerns over his fitness and fielding, the selectors have shown immense faith in his explosive abilities. However, if the returns remain elusive, they might have to consider other options. Whether they have many options in finisher’s role is another question to ponder.
Disappointment lingers around Matheesha Pathirana. The young speedster, touted as the quickest bowler in the squad, has struggled with control, with erratic lines and frequent no-balls proving costly. While the team’s patience with him ran thin on this tour, Pathirana remains a valuable cog in the wheel. With proper input to iron out these kinks, his comeback could be a tale worth telling.
On the brighter side, Binura Fernando impressed with his tidy bowling. But Sri Lanka’s real trump card lies in their spin department. Wanindu Hasaranga, ranked third among T20 bowlers, continues to bamboozle batters with his guile and variations, even on tracks offering little assistance to spinners. Alongside Maheesh Theekshana, ranked fifth, this duo is poised to give opposition batters sleepless nights come the 2026 World Cup.
All in all, Sri Lanka seems to be assembling a formidable lineup with their sights firmly set on the World Cup. From the dark days of battling through qualifiers not long ago, the prospect of entering the tournament as genuine title contenders feels like a script straight out of a fairytale. Sri Lankan cricket turned a significant corner in 2024, and 2025 could well be the year they roar back to prominence, making a statement that the cricketing world simply cannot ignore.
Exciting days are ahead for this team.