Sri Lanka’s allrounder, Wanindu Hasaranga, has been officially ruled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup following a hamstring injury sustained during his side’s opening match against Ireland in Colombo on Sunday. Despite managing to complete his spell of 3 for 25 in four overs, which helped derail Ireland’s chase of 164, Hasaranga’s injury was serious enough to require further investigation.
Hasaranga underwent an MRI scan on Monday, and the results confirmed a substantial tear in his left hamstring. The injury was reviewed by a specialist in the UK, leading to his exclusion from the tournament. The hamstring tear appears to be linked to a previous injury, though it’s not exactly a recurrence of the same issue.
A Familiar Struggle
Replacement Likely to Be Dushan Hemantha
While the International Cricket Council (ICC) is yet to approve an official replacement, it’s expected that fellow legspinner Dushan Hemantha will be called up to take Hasaranga’s place in the squad. Hemantha, 31, has had limited opportunities at the international level, playing just three T20Is and taking four wickets at an economy rate of 7.85. Despite his experience, he is still relatively untested on the global stage, and Sri Lanka might opt to drop him directly into the playing XI, considering the lack of spinners in reserve.
Hasaranga’s Impact on Sri Lanka’s Campaign
Hasaranga’s absence will undoubtedly hurt Sri Lanka’s chances in the tournament. He is by far their most accomplished bowler in T20 cricket, having taken 40 wickets in World Cup appearances with a remarkable economy rate of 6.01. His skill and experience will be sorely missed, particularly in what is expected to be a competitive group stage for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s next match is against Oman on February 12 in Pallekele, followed by a crucial clash with Australia on February 16 and their final group stage game against Zimbabwe on February 19 in Colombo. With Hasaranga sidelined, Sri Lanka will need to adapt quickly and rally around their remaining players to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
