Sunrisers Hyderabad’s IPL 2026 was going nowhere four games into the season. They had won just one game, their bowling looked clueless, their batting over-dependent on the top order and their regular captain was still recovering from an injury. Then they met Rajasthan Royals and a season turnaround ensued. They defeated RR by 57 runs and began their journey of five straight wins which lifted them from the lower half of the points table to playoff contention.

RR’s season began with four straight wins, with everything falling into place. Then came a dip, which began with that defeat against SRH and ultimately reached a stage where RR had to overcome two near must-win games to reach the playoffs. One might argue that having played two high-pressure games, RR are better placed coming into the eliminator as opposed to SRH, who haven’t really faced any knockout anxiety. But SRH have been the more consistent of the two teams and will bank on in-form players to get the job done in New Chandigarh.

Sri Lanka’s experiment with Dasun Shanaka as T-20 captain has ended far sooner than many expected. In truth, the only men fully convinced by Shanaka’s leadership credentials appeared to be the previous selection panel headed by Pramodya Wickramasinghe. That chapter has now been shut with Kusal Mendis appointed captain of both the ODI and T-20 sides.

Although a new selection panel headed by Kapila Wijegunawardene is officially in place, there is a strong sense that the squad for the upcoming West Indies tour had largely been shaped by the outgoing committee before they packed their bags.

Charith Asalanka, once viewed as Sri Lanka’s long-term leadership investment, has now been stripped of captaincy duties altogether. First removed from the T-20 leadership, he has now lost the ODI captaincy as well. To make matters worse, he has also been dropped from the T-20 squad and unless he delivers with the bat in the Caribbean during the 50-over series, his place in the ODI side could soon come under threat too.

Many, including us, argued that Charith was a captain Sri Lanka had groomed patiently for the future and deserved a longer rope. But it appears his shortcomings extended beyond a lean run with the bat. There have been whispers for some time regarding concerns over his attitude. The cracks reportedly began to show during last year’s Pakistan tour when, despite assurances from both governments regarding high-level security, he was keen to return home. It has also emerged that he was fined during the NSL final following an altercation with match officials.

Once the selectors decided to move on from both Dasun and Charith, there were hardly any obvious candidates left standing. Kusal Mendis became, in many ways, Hobson’s choice.

That said, the wicketkeeper-batter has been one of Sri Lanka’s most consistent performers in white-ball cricket over the last two years. Ranked 16th in ODIs and 22nd in T-20 Internationals, Mendis has been among the few batters who has managed to keep his head above water while others have sunk without trace. The concern, however, is whether the selectors have loaded too much onto his shoulders. He already carries the burden of opening the batting and keeping wickets across formats.

Kamindu Mendis was confirmed as vice-captain in all three formats, while Dhananjaya de Silva retains the Test captaincy.

Opening batter Nishan Madushka has earned a recall to the Test side alongside prolific middle-order batter Pasindu Sooriyabandara, whose domestic returns have been impossible to ignore.

Off-spinner Ramesh Mendis also returns to the squad despite underwhelming returns in recent Test outings. Left-arm quick Isitha Wijesundara has been rewarded for an impressive run with Sri Lanka ‘A’, with the Sri Jayewardenepura graduate finally receiving his maiden call-up.

Wanindu Hasaranga features in the white-ball squads after recovering from a hamstring injury, while all eyes will be on Eshan Malinga following his eye-catching exploits in the IPL. The young quick has bowled with serious wheels and swagger, and Sri Lanka will hope some of that firepower translates onto the international stage.

by Rex Clementine

A blistering century by Maneth Induwara and a devastating six-wicket haul by Induwara Senevirathne powered Wickramashila National School, Giriulla to a crushing 150-run victory over Vidyartha College, Kandy in their Under 17 Division I limited overs first round cricket encounter played in Kandy on Tuesday.

‎Asked to take first lease of the wicket, Wickramashila NS suffered an early setback after losing their first wicket for just six runs. However, opener Maneth Induwara steadied the innings with an attacking century to guide his team to a formidable total of 257 for eight in their allotted 50 overs.

‎Maneth was the chief architect of the innings, hammering 116 runs off 105 deliveries with 16 fours and three sixes. He received valuable support from Supeshala Sithil, who struck a composed 54 in 96 balls inclusive of seven boundaries. The pair combined for a match-defining 133-run partnership for the fourth wicket that laid the foundation for Wickramashila’s imposing total.

‎Induwara Senevirathne also made a useful contribution with the bat, scoring 35 runs, while Mewul Ganegoda (4 for 46) and Sathsara Weerasekara (3 for 37) were the pick of the Vidyartha bowlers.

‎In reply, Vidyartha College never recovered after losing wickets at regular intervals as Senevirathne ripped through the batting line-up with a superb spell of 6 for 16 in seven overs, including two maidens.

‎Only Teshan Niwarthana offered resistance with a brisk 34 off 23 balls, while Lakindu Kodikara chipped in with 17 as the hosts were bowled out for 107 in 23.4 overs. Hirun Mansana (2 for 28) and Dinuka Dananjaya (2 for 8) provided excellent support with the ball.

‎Scores:

‎Wickramashila NS

– 257 for 8 in 50 overs (Maneth Induwara 116, Induwara Senevirathne 35, Supeshala Sithil 54; Mewul Ganegoda 4/46, Sathsara Weerasekara 3/37)

‎Vidyartha College

– 107 all out in 23.4 overs (Teshan Niwarthana 34, Lakindu Kodikara 17; Induwara Senevirathne 6/16, Hirun Mansana 2/28, Dinuka Dananjaya 2/08) (RF)