Wanindu Hasaranga's exit leaves Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup campaign in freefall
Wanindu Hasaranga (Source: IG/@wanindu_49_waniya)
Published - 11 Feb 2026, 02:00 PM• Read time - 3 mins
Sri Lanka have suffered a devastating setback with star bowling allrounder Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup after sustaining a tear in his left hamstring. The injury occurred during Sri Lanka’s tournament opener against Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium on February 8, a match in which he was still outstanding, returning figures of 3 for 25 despite the discomfort.
His absence threatens to derail Sri Lanka’s entire campaign. Hasaranga isn’t just a match‑winner; he is the team’s tactical centrepiece, a player with a rare pedigree of delivering on the biggest stages and shaping games with ball, bat, and leadership.
A proven performer at ICC events
Few players in world cricket elevate themselves at ICC tournaments the way Hasaranga does. His record at T20 World Cups is extraordinary:
2021: 16 wickets in eight matches at an economy of 5.20, the tournament’s leading wicket‑taker
2022: 15 wickets in eight matches at 6.41, the highest wicket-taker of the event
Across T20 World Cups, he has amassed 40 wickets at a remarkable economy rate of 6.01, numbers that place him among the elite performers in the event’s history.
His impact extends beyond World Cups. In the T20 Asia Cup, another high‑pressure multi‑nation event, Hasaranga has taken 17 wickets in 12 matches at 6.93, consistently turning games in Sri Lanka’s favour.
This is the calibre of player Sri Lanka are losing, a bowler who thrives when the stakes are highest and whose spells often define tournaments.
The absence of a handy lower-order batter and a leadership figure
Hasaranga’s value isn’t confined to his bowling. As a lower‑order batter, he has contributed crucial runs in tight situations, scoring 807 runs in 95 T20Is at a strike rate of 126.29, including two fifties. His ability to clear the ropes and shift momentum has made him a vital insurance policy in Sri Lanka’s batting order.
He is also an exceptional fielder and a respected leader within the squad. Having previously captained the national side, Hasaranga remains a central voice in strategy and decision‑making. His absence leaves captain Dasun Shanaka without a key lieutenant and someone who reads conditions instinctively.
A campaign under threat
Sri Lanka entered the World Cup with Hasaranga as their anchor, the bowler opponents were wary of, the batter who could rescue an innings, the leader who steadied the group. Losing him so early in the tournament is a massive setback.
Without their talisman, Sri Lanka must rethink their balance and find new sources of composure in pressure moments. It is not impossible, but it is undeniably harder.
Hasaranga’s exit doesn’t just weaken Sri Lanka. It alters the complexion of the World Cup itself, removing one of the format’s most electrifying performers and leaving a campaign suddenly under threat before it has truly begun.
