What could Sri Lanka's playing XI look like for the Asia Cup?
Sri Lanka's tournament preparations are slightly different to their rivals. India have not played any T20I cricket since the IPL, while UAE, Afghanistan and Pakistan are engaged in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah. There had been rumblings of an India-Sri Lanka series in the offing, but that never came to fruition.
As a result, Sri Lanka's Asia Cup preparations have ended up being a series of two ODIs and three T20Is in Zimbabwe. The second T20I on September 6 saw them sink to a new low as they were bowled out for 80.
Sri Lanka have been drawn in a tricky Group B for the Asia Cup, alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka's Asia Cup squad
Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Nuwanidu Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.
Top order
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera
Sri Lanka have a very settled top three coming into the tournament. Pathum Nissanka has played all six of the team's T20Is in 2025, and has been in fine form. In fact, over the last 24 months or so, he has averaged almost 36 while striking at 140, a far cry from his early struggles in the shortest format.
Wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis is another who has featured in all of Sri Lanka's T20Is this year. Since the start of Sri Lanka's tour of New Zealand last December, his returns have been rather hit-and-miss. But given his experience of 83 T20Is, the team management look willing to bank on more hits than misses.
Read more: Four Pakistanis, three Sri Lankans: A combined Asia Cup XI that could beat India
Kusal Perera gives Sri Lanka a left-hander in the top three. It's not a stretch to say that his blistering century against New Zealand in January has been one of the innings of the year, even if his more recent form has been patchy. Going back to the home series against West Indies last October, he strikes at upwards of 140, averaging 26.
Middle order
Nuwanidu Fernando, Charith Asalanka (c), Kamindu Mendis
The No.4 spot has been slightly problematic. After last year's T20 World Cup, Sri Lanka gave Kamindu Mendis a run of nine games there but ditched the plan as they entered the new year. Avishka Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal were both used briefly, but neither one has made the Asia Cup squad.
All this means the incumbent is most likely Nuwanidu Fernando, who made seven and one in the first two T20Is against Zimbabwe, and has only played three in total. Kamil Mishara, normally an opener, is an alternate option who could be shoehorned in.
Captain Charith Asalanka will bat at his usual No.5 spot, giving Sri Lanka a part-time off-spin option as well. Kamindu's move to No.6 in 2025 has not been well-received by all sections of the fanbase, but he did slam a 16-ball 41 against Zimbabwe in a tricky chase on September 3.
All-rounders
Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka
Star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga suffered a hamstring injury in July that kept him out of the end of the Bangladesh series, and the ongoing Zimbabwe tour. He is expected to recover for the Asia Cup, but in the event that he does not, Sri Lanka could call upon youngster Dunith Wellalage.
Dasun Shanaka was out of the side for a brief period after the home series against India last year, but was recalled at the start of 2025, and should shore up the batting at No.8. There could be an argument for picking 23-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe instead, to build towards the home T20 World Cup early next year, but that is clearly a route Sri Lanka are not keen on going down just yet.
Bowlers
Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana
Outside of the openers and the captain, offie Maheesh Theekshana is the only player to play all of Sri Lanka's T20Is in 2025. He also gives them flexibility in terms of the pacers' bowling roles, with the ability to bowl in the Powerplay if needed. His returns in this calendar year have been less than impressive though, conceding in excess of 8.5 per over, and taking just five wickets in six games.
Nuwan Thushara was part of RCB's IPL-winning squad in May, and remains Sri Lanka's first-choice quick in the T20 format. Like Theekshana, his recent form is not the best but they will trust him to show up.
Also read: Beyond Rizbar: Whisper it, but Pakistan's T20I side is starting to make sense
Matheesha Pathirana could be doubtful for the playing XI, since he hasn't played an international game in 2025 and had injury trouble towards the start of this year's IPL. Despite that, he has made the Asia Cup squad, suggesting Sri Lanka could well have plans to bring him right back into the fold. He did look quite promising in the SLC T20 League in August as well.
If, for whatever reason, Pathirana does not make the cut, expect left-armer Binura Fernando to play instead, to give Sri Lanka a point of difference in their seam attack.
Sri Lanka's predicted playing XI for 2025 Asia Cup
- Pathum Nissanka
- Kusal Mendis (wk)
- Kusal Perera
- Nuwanidu Fernando
- Charith Asalanka (c)
- Kamindu Mendis
- Wanindu Hasaranga
- Dasun Shanaka
- Maheesh Theekshana
- Nuwan Thushara
- Matheesha Pathirana
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