In a group that consists of New Zealand and host England, the odds are stacked against Sri Lanka.
The island nation has been part of the T20 World Cup since the inaugural edition in 2009, but is yet to make a semifinal appearance, and to put it bluntly, will need something of a miracle to get through to the knockout stages in the forthcoming edition.
The 2024 iteration of the tournament was especially disappointing, as Sri Lanka failed to win a single match at a T20 World Cup edition for the first time ever.
But over the last twelve months, the team has been on an upward trajectory and has come into the competition on the back of confidence-boosting series victories against Bangladesh and West Indies.
Having defeated South Africa in 2024 and England in England in 2023 in bilateral T20Is, the Sri Lankan side knows what it takes to be successful in these conditions.
Sri Lanka begins its 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against England in the opening game on June 12. Sri Lanka is drawn in Group B alongside New Zealand, England, Scotland, Ireland, West Indies.
Here’s a brief look at the nation’s squad in the Women’s T20 World Cup:
And at 36, Athapaththu is showing no signs of slowing down at all, having smashed a 58-ball 94 against Pakistan in the warm-up fixture.
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And at 36, Athapaththu is showing no signs of slowing down at all, having smashed a 58-ball 94 against Pakistan in the warm-up fixture.
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Chamari Athapaththu, 36, captain, left-hand batting all-rounder
Cricket is a team sport but every now and then, we have witnessed fortunes of a side heavily hinging on the brilliance of individuals. For Sri Lanka, since her debut in 2009, Chamari Athapaththu has been that player.
Athapaththu has taken part in every edition of the T20 World Cup and has carried the Sri Lankan team on her back.
Her numbers are second to none- Athapaththu is the leading run scorer for Sri Lanka in both ODIs and T20Is and has also hit the most number of international centuries for her country.
Overall, Athapaththu has scored 3752 runs in T20Is including three centuries and 14 half-centuries. She took over as Sri Lanka’s captain in 2014 and has led her side to multiple memorable victories.
Athapaththu is a well-travelled T20 specialist, the first Sri Lankan woman to play franchise cricket internationally. She has enjoyed tremendous success in the Women’s Big Bash League, so much so there’s a seating area dedicated to her at the Sydney Cricket Ground called the Chamari Bay and is a cherished gesture for the Sri Lankan community Down Under.
At 36, she is showing no signs of slowing down at all, having smashed a 58-ball 94 against Pakistan in the warm-up fixture.
Having made her debut in 2014, Hasini has amassed 1036 runs from 95 matches, including two half-centuries in T20Is.
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Having made her debut in 2014, Hasini has amassed 1036 runs from 95 matches, including two half-centuries in T20Is.
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Hasini Perera, 30, left-hand top order
Hasini Perera brings with her a wealth of experience and is a vital cog in the top order for the Sri Lankans.
Having made her debut in 2014 — T20I debut in a World Cup no less — Hasini has amassed 1036 runs from 95 matches, including two half-centuries in the shortest format.
The 30-year-old has enjoyed more success and consistency ever since she moved from the middle order to the top of the order in December last year, after which she produced a career best 65. Her strike rate can sometimes be testing, but she brings solidity to the Sri Lankan batting essay when she gets going.
The 2026 will be Hasini’s fifth appearance at a T20 World Cup, having previously played in 2024, 2020, 2018, and 2014 editions.
The 2026 edition will mark Dulani’s maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
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The 2026 edition will mark Dulani’s maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
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Imesha Dulani, 24, right-hand batter
During the pre-tournament press conference, captain Athapaththu described Imesha Dulani as one of the players to watch out for. Having made her debut in 2023, Dulani has been solid in her career so far.
In 12 matches in T20Is, Dulani has scored 249 runs at a healthy average of 31.12, including two half-centuries. Her recent form has been encouraging too, having notched up three half-centuries in her last ten matches.
The 2026 edition will mark her maiden T20 World Cup appearance.
A knee injury in October 2025 kept Vishmi out of action for a while but she has returned and continued to pile on the runs since.
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A knee injury in October 2025 kept Vishmi out of action for a while but she has returned and continued to pile on the runs since.
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Vishmi Gunaratne, 20, right-handed batter
One of the youngest members of the squad, Vishmi Gunaratne is another player who has earned high praise from captain Chamari Athapaththu.
When she rose through the ranks of school cricket, she fascinated the cricketing world. She scored a whopping 417 off 128 balls, the first-ever quadruple century in Sri Lankan girls’ cricket. She once missed a tour of Pakistan because she was giving her O Level exams in 2022.
Gunaratne led the Sri Lankan U-19 team in its inaugural edition of the tournament in 2023 and emerged as the highest-run getter, scoring 134 runs at an impressive average of 44.66.
A knee injury in October 2025 kept her out of action for a while but she has returned and continued to pile on the runs since. A 63 not-out against Pakistan in the warm-up match on June 6 will have done her confidence a world of good ahead of the start of the tournament.
Harshitha, who is the vice-captain, has scored 1700 runs in T20Is including nine half-centuries.
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Harshitha, who is the vice-captain, has scored 1700 runs in T20Is including nine half-centuries.
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Harshitha Samarawickrama, 27, left-hand top order batter
Harshitha Samarawickrama is the second highest run scorer in T20Is for Sri Lanka and along with captain Chamari Athapaththu, will be entrusted to do the heavy lifting in the batting department.
Harshitha, who is the vice-captain, has scored 1700 runs in T20Is including nine half-centuries. Her defining moment came in the 2024 Women’s T20 Asia Cup final, hitting an unbeaten 69 in the final against India to guide her team to the trophy.
She made her debut as a 17-year-old, having been in the domestic system from the age of 15. She earned a call-up to the 2016 T20 World Cup dye to the same. She eventually became the fastest Sri Lankan to 1000 T20I runs.
Harshitha is renowned for her elegant cover drive and idolises Kumar Sangarakka, little mystery as to where she drew inspiration for the stroke from.
The 2026 edition will be Harshitha’s fifth appearance at a T20 World Cup.
Nilakshika has played over 114 matches for Sri Lanka in T20Is and has scored over 1200 runs.
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Nilakshika has played over 114 matches for Sri Lanka in T20Is and has scored over 1200 runs.
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Nilakshika Silva, 36, right-hand middle order batter
Nilakshika Silva brings experience and stability to Sri Lanka’s middle order. She is also someone who has had the learn the value of patience the hard way. After making her ODI debut in 2015, she made the Lankan World Cup squad only 10 years later in 2025.
Nilakshika has played over 114 matches for Sri Lanka in T20Is and has scored over 1200 runs.
The 2026 tournament will be Nilakshika’s fourth appearance at the T20 World Cup, after 2018, 2020, and 2024.
Dilhari made her T20 World Cup debut in 2018 when she was just 18-years-old and has since become Sri Lanka’s frontline spinner.
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Dilhari made her T20 World Cup debut in 2018 when she was just 18-years-old and has since become Sri Lanka’s frontline spinner.
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Kavisha Dilhari, 25, right-arm spin bowling all-rounder
Sri Lanka’s finest spinners include names like Muttiah Muralitharan, Rangana Herath, and Ajantha Mendis. In the women’s vertical, after Inoka Ranaweera and Shashikala Siriwardene, Kavisha Dilhari could just be next in line.
Dilhari, who hails from the same village as Lasith Malinga, made her T20 World Cup debut in 2018 when she was just 18-years-old and has since become Sri Lanka’s frontline spinner, especially after Ranaweera and Samarawickrama hung their boots.
Her quick thinking and confidence prompted Athapaththu to personally vouch for her inclusion in the 2020 T20 World Cup squad.
The 25-year-old has a knack of providing breakthroughs at crucial stages and also has the ability to hit the ball a long way. In 80 matches in T20Is, Dilhari has picked up 66 wickets at an outstanding average of 21.75, and a miserly economy rate of 6.45.
Hansima has represented Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups once in the past, in the 2020 edition, incidentally against India.
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Hansima has represented Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups once in the past, in the 2020 edition, incidentally against India.
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Hansima Karunaratne, 32, right-handed batter
Hansima made her debut for Sri Lanka in 2016 and adds depth to the Sri Lankan batting unit. In 19 matches in T20Is, the 32-year-old has scored 169 runs.
Hansima has represented Sri Lanka in T20 World Cups once in the past, in the 2020 edition, incidentally against India.
The 2026 edition will be the 23-year-old’s second appearance in a T20 World Cup, having been part of the squad as a backup keeper in the 2023 edition.
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The 2026 edition will be the 23-year-old’s second appearance in a T20 World Cup, having been part of the squad as a backup keeper in the 2023 edition.
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Kaushini Nuthyangana, 23, wicket-keeper, right-handed batter
Kaushini Nuthyanga was promoted to the primary custodian behind the stumps after regular Anushka Sanjeewani was dropped from the team post the 2024 T20 Asia Cup and has since been the first choice keeper for the Sri Lankan team.
In 13 matches in T20Is, Kaushini has taken two catches and also effected three stumpings.
The 2026 edition will be the 23-year-old’s second appearance in a T20 World Cup, having been part of the squad as a backup keeper in the 2023 edition.
Sugandika, who has been around in the national team since 2015, has taken 70 wickets in 94 matches in T20Is.
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Sugandika, who has been around in the national team since 2015, has taken 70 wickets in 94 matches in T20Is.
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Sugandika Dasanayaka, 34, slow-left arm orthodox bowler
Being a left-arm orthodox bowler, Sugandika Dasanayaka adds variety to Sri Lanka’s spin bowling department.
Sugandika, who has been around since 2015, has taken 70 wickets in 94 matches in T20Is.
Her T20 World Cup numbers are pretty decent too- the 34-year-old has taken 11 wickets from 17 matches at an economy rate of 6.83, with best figures of 3/19.
Along with Kavisha Dilhari, the team will depend on Sugandika to control the flow of runs in the middle overs and provide timely breakthroughs. The 34-year-old has previously been part of three T20 World Cups, the 2016, 2020, and 2024 editions.
Madushani has played only four matches for Sri Lanka in T20Is and has taken three wickets.
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Madushani has played only four matches for Sri Lanka in T20Is and has taken three wickets.
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Nimasha Madushani, 26, slow left-arm orthodox bowler
Nimasha Madushani will serve as the like-to-like backup for Sugandika Dasanayaka.
Madushani has played only four matches for Sri Lanka in T20Is and has taken three wickets.
The coming edition will mark the 26-year-old’s first appearance at a T20 World Cup.
Kavya will be making her first appearance at a T20 World Cup in the 2026 edition.
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Kavya will be making her first appearance at a T20 World Cup in the 2026 edition.
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Kawya Kavindi, 23, right-arm medium pacer
Another young face in the squad, Kawya Kavindi is still very much in the early days of her cricketing career.
Before her debut, she spent a number years in the reserves patiently waiting for her opportunity to make the eleven. She made her T20I debut in 2023 and has taken 12 wickets from 14 matches at an average of 22.00 and economy rate of 7.00.
Kawya will be making her first appearance at a T20 World Cup in the 2026 edition.
Having picked a relatively inexperienced pace bowling attack, the 23-year-old is expected to play the role of one of the frontline fast bowlers.
Malki, like her partner in the pace bowling department Kavya Kawindi, will also be making her T20 World Cup debut in the 2026 edition.
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Malki, like her partner in the pace bowling department Kavya Kawindi, will also be making her T20 World Cup debut in the 2026 edition.
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Malki Madara, 25, right-arm medium pacer
Another player who is just starting out, Malki Madara made her T20I debut in 2025 and has picked up 11 wickets from 12 matches at an average of 21.90 and economy rate of 6.57.
Malki, like her partner in the pace bowling department Kavya Kawindi, will also be making her T20 World Cup debut in the 2026 edition.
Lauded for her pace in the domestic and U-19 level, the bowler from the south of Sri Lanka has come through the Air Force Sports Club.
Mithali’s T20I career has spanned only three matches so far in which has taken three wickets, at an average of 30.66 and an economy of 10.22.
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Mithali’s T20I career has spanned only three matches so far in which has taken three wickets, at an average of 30.66 and an economy of 10.22.
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Mithali Ayodhya, 19, right-arm medium pacer
At 19-years-old, Mithali Ayodhya is one of the youngest players in the tournament. Her T20I career has spanned only three matches so far in which has taken three wickets, at an average of 30.66 and an economy of 10.22.
As things stand, it remains unlikely that Mithali will get too many opportunities to be part of the playing XI but with that being said, is a handy backup to have in the pace bowling unit nonetheless.
Vimukthi is yet to play a T20I game for Sri Lanka and has played only three matches in ODIs.
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Vimukthi is yet to play a T20I game for Sri Lanka and has played only three matches in ODIs.
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Chethana Vimukthi, 24, right-arm medium pace bowler
Chethana Vimukthi, who was initially not part of the squad, came in as a replacement for Shashin Gimhani, who was forced to withdraw from the tournament after sustaining a lower-back injury during training.
Born and raised in Badulla, her foundations were laid in the school system before she made her to the Sri Lanka Navy Sports Club and Panadura Sportts Club.
Vimukthi is yet to play a T20I game for Sri Lanka and has played only three matches in ODIs.
Published on Jun 11, 2026
