Sri Lanka, under the leadership of Dasun Shanaka, is gearing up to co-host the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, aiming to capitalize on home advantage despite facing recentperformance struggles. With the tournament set to begin, a SWOT analysis reveals the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for the Lions.

Strengths:

Sri Lanka's strength lies in its spin bowling attack, which can create pressure in the middle overs. The trio of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Dunith Wellalage offers wicket-taking ability while restricting boundaries, making it difficult for opponents to score freely. Matheesha Pathirana's death-over bowling can disrupt chasing teams with his hard lengths and yorker attempts. Dushmantha Chameera adds pace upfront, giving Sri Lanka the ability to win crucial moments in the game. Playing at home provides subtle advantages, as the team is familiar with conditions such as dew, which ends offer more grip for spinners, and which boundaries are safer to target. The batting lineup includes experienced players like Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, and Charith Asalanka, along with the promising Kamindu Mendis. Hard-hitting all-rounders such as Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga and Dunith Wellalage can influence the game with both bat and ball.

Weaknesses:

A significant weakness is the team's batting volatility and tendency to suffer sudden collapses. If the top order loses early wickets, the middle order can be forced into high-risk shots too early, leading to a cluster of wickets. Inconsistency and over-reliance on key players like Hasaranga and Pathirana are also major concerns. If opponents neutralize these players, the attack could become blunt. The middle order sometimes lacks a clear anchor to consolidate and accelerate, especially on difficult surfaces. Furthermore, Sri Lanka has struggled to chase big totals in recent T20Is, and their bowling attack sometimes fails to take wickets in the starting overs. Recent form has seen Sri Lanka lose about half of their 32 T20s since the 2024 T20 World Cup, including losses to England at home.

Opportunities:

Co-hosting the World Cup offers Sri Lanka the chance to exploit spin-friendly venues and shorter travel times for visiting teams. A fast start can help the team lock in roles and build confidence. The opening match against Ireland presents an opportunity to define roles and set the tone for the tournament. Match-up bowling can be used as a strategic edge, challenging batters who prefer pace and disrupting set hitters. Sri Lanka can also aim for "ugly wins" by defending low scores or chasing targets by staying alive until the last few overs. Tactical flexibility and smart pitch reading such as opening with spin or using Hasaranga in short bursts, could produce match-winning middle-over spells. Young players in strong domestic form can be used as impact options, creating selection dilemmas for opponents.

Threats:

Dew could negate Sri Lanka's spin优势, making it difficult for spinners to grip the ball. Some opponents may aggressively attack the middle overs, requiring Sri Lanka to adapt quickly. The team's style relies on tight windows, and injuries or missed chances could undo carefully laid plans. A tough group draw or back-to-back matches with limited recovery time could expose fitness and bench-depth issues, especially for the fast bowlers.

Dasun Shanaka's T20 career includes 123 matches with 1,745 runs at an average of 20, including 124 fours and 91 sixes. He is currently ranked 73rd in the ICC T20 batting rankings. Sri Lanka is placed in Group B alongside Australia, Zimbabwe, Oman, and Ireland. According to pre-seeding, they could face Pakistan, England, and New Zealand in the Super 8 stage. Sri Lanka will need to address its weaknesses and capitalize on its strengths to navigate the tournament successfully. While recent form has been inconsistent, Sri Lanka has a history of performing well in major limited-overs tournaments and will be looking to make the most of their home advantage.