ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka’s strongest predicted playing XI for the tournament

Sri Lankan Cricket Team. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

The Sri Lankan team will be eager to do well in the ICC World Cup 2023 which begins in India. The tournament will start on October 5, 2023, with England taking on New Zealand in the opening encounter. The final will be played on November 19.

A total of 10 teams will be playing in the round-robin format in a total of 48 matches across 10 venues in India. It will be the first time India will be the solo host of the World Cup tournament, after having hosted the tournament in partnership with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in 1987, 1996 and 2011.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan team will be one of the underdogs going into the World Cup given the injury setbacks they suffered ahead of the tournament. The 1996 World Cup winners will be without two of the premier bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera in this tournament. Hasaranga is out due to a grade three tear in the hamstring, while Chameera is suffering from a shoulder injury. This meant that the Lankan Lions had to make a few tweaks in their squad for the World Cup 2023.

In the same vein, here’s Sri Lanka’s strongest predicted playing XI for ODI World Cup 2023:

1. Kusal Perera

Kusal Perera. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The experienced Kusal Perera returned to the Sri Lankan side after a brief hiatus and showed his aggressive intent in the Asia Cup 2023. Though he didn’t get many runs, Sri Lanka will be more than happy to have him at the top of the batting order. His aggressive style of play is perfect in powerplay overs. He is equally devastating against spin and pace.

Perera has played 109 ODIs for Sri Lanka since his debut in 2013. He has scored 3088 runs at an average of 31.19 and a strike rate of 92.51. He has made 6 centuries and 15 fifties with a highest score of 135. 

2. Pathum Nissanka

Pathum Nissanka. (Photo Source: Twitter/ICC)

Pathum Nissanka has become a vital part of Sri Lanka’s limited-overs setup since his debut in 2021. The right-handed batter has 1396 runs in 40 ODIs with a best score of 137. He averages 37.72 and has a strike rate of 83.64 with 3 centuries to his name.

Nissanka can form a very dangerous pair at the top with Kusal Perera for Sri Lanka. Like Perera, Nissanka also doesn’t let any loose ball get away and is also very aggressive against spin. If he spends a bit of time in the middle, he is capable of doing some serious damage. 

3. Kusal Mendis (WK/VC)

Kusal Mendis. (Photo Source: ISHARA S.KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images)

Kusal Mendis is the glue that holds the Sri Lankan batting together. He is also the vice-captain and the wicketkeeper of the Lankan team. The diminutive right-hander has all the skills to score risk-free runs for his team. The no.3 slot is a very important one and hence Mendis has been given the responsibility of shouldering the Lankan batting.

Also read: ODI Cricket World Cup Schedule

He scores runs effortlessly and runs well behind the wickets. His record speaks for himself, as in 112 ODIs, he has 3215 runs. He has 2 centuries thus far, with a best score of 119 and an average of 32.15. Sri Lanka will depend on him a lot given his current form with the bat and even his vital inputs while keeping wickets.  

4. Sadeera Samarawickrama

Sadeera Samarawickrama . (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)

Sadeera Samarawickrama is a keeper-batter in aggressive mode. He has been part of the Sri Lankan team in ODIs since 2017. In all in 23 50-over matches, Samarawickrama has scored 615 runs with a best of 93 at a strike rate of 90.30. 

His recent performances in the Asia Cup 2023 tournament have made him a must-have in Sri Lanka XI for the World Cup. His 93 against Bangladesh helped the Lankans put up a decent total in Colombo. But his best knock came in the do-or-die clash against Pakistan. He scored 48 and with Charith Asalanka, took Sri Lanka to the win.   

5. Dhananjaya de Silva

Dhananjaya de Silva. (Photo Source: Albert Perez-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Dhananjaya de Silva is the master of all trades for Sri Lanka and his presence in the middle order gives a sense of security to the whole team. He is a proper all-rounder for the team. He has 1725 runs in 82 ODI matches with 10 fifties to his name. He has taken 44 wickets as well at an economy of 4.95.

De Silva is not an aggressive batter but believes in accumulating his runs at a fast pace without hitting the big shots. He is in the mould of Russell Arnold, a fighter who never gives up, whether with the bat or the ball. He can be very helpful if Sri Lanka loses early wickets.  

6. Charith Asalanka

Charitha Asalanka. (Photo Source: Surjeet Yadav/Getty Images)

Charith Asalanka recorded his name in Sri Lanka’s cricketing history thanks to his amazing knock against Pakistan in the Asia Cup must-win match. His 49* enabled Sri Lanka to chase down 252 runs and win by 1 wicket via DLS method. This helped them reach the final of the tournament.

Asalanka is a left-handed batter and right-arm off-break bowler. He has 1272 runs in 41 ODIs with one century and 9 fifties to his name. He averages 41.03 and has a strike rate of 89.26.  

7. Dasun Shanaka (C)

Dasun Shanaka. (Photo Source: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images)

Dasun Shanaka will captain the Sri Lankan team in the ODI World Cup 2023. He has copped a lot of criticism for his personal performances lately. He led the team to win in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers to make it into the mega event. They were also scrappy in the Asia Cup 2023, albeit without their first-choice bowling attack.

But luck was not on their side as they were bowled for 50 after Shanaka chose to bat after winning the toss. But Shanaka knows that there are not many expectations from Sri Lanka as they are without Wanindu Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera. This might help him lead the side freely and they are expected to make a few upsets.  

8. Dunith Wellalage

Dunith-Wellalage. (Photo Source: Twitter/ICC)

Sri Lanka’s Dunith Wellalage was a surprise package in the Asia Cup 2023. He impressed everyone with his spin bowling and also contributed with the bat to his team’s causes. The 20-year-old has little baggage and can be a good alternative for Hasaranga, doing his duties in the middle overs.

He stunned everyone with his fifer against India in the Asia Cup. He was unfazed by the pressure of playing a big team and was composed with the bat as well. In the little that we have seen of Wellalage, he has shown his best qualities while surrounded by important events rather than being intimidated by them.

 

9. Maheesh Theekshana

Maheesh Theekshana Sri Lanka. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

Maheesh Theekshana will lead the Sri Lankan spin attack in absence of Wanindu Hasaranga. He has had a good outing in ODIs in 2023. In 15 matches, he has 31 wickets with a best of 4/25 and an economy of 4.50.

Also read: ODI Cricket World Cup 2023 points table

His finger spin is mysterious and often fools the batter by bowling straighter ones. As a result, this creates a dilemma for the batters to figure out whether the ball will spin or not. Theekshana overall has 44 wickets in 27 ODIs for Sri Lanka. 

10. Lahiru Kumara

Lahiru. (Photo Source: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Lahiru Kumara attaining 100% fitness for the World Cup 2023 was a piece of good news for Sri Lanka. They are already without their fastest bowler in Dushmantha Chameera. But with Kumara back in the squad, they at least have a pacer that can be unleashed on Indian pitches which aid fast bowling.

He has 34 wickets in 26 ODIs for Sri Lanka with a best of 3/22 and an economy of 6.42. However, he often consistently bowls in the high 140 kph range, which will be more than enough for Sri Lanka. 

11. Matheesha Pathirana

Matheesha-Pathirana. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Matheesha Pathirana made his Sri Lanka debut only last year but has impressed one and all with the talent he possesses. Often compared with the great Lasith Malinga for having a similar slingy action, Pathirana has played 10 ODIs for Lanka, taking 15 wickets. His best bowling is 4/32 and his economy is 6.52.

Therefore, the talented bowler will be a surprise package in the ODI cricket World Cup 2023 for Sri Lanka, as not many teams have faced him before. Besides he also has lethal toe crushers in his bowling armour which can rattle even the best batters of top teams.