Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the 2026 T20 World Cup due to a left hamstring injury. According to Sri Lankan media, the strain would sideline him for four weeks, bringing a premature end to his campaign in the marquee event co-hosted by his country.
Hasaranga suffered the injury during Sri Lanka’s tournament opener against Ireland in Colombo on Sunday. He was seen struggling during the match itself, but completed his spell, taking 3/25.
He underwent an MRI scan on Monday, which revealed the extent of the injury. Fellow leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha will replace him in the squad. Hemantha, 31, has played five ODIs and three T20Is for the Lankans so far, picking six wickets, with a T20 economy rate of 7.85.
Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup campaign began on a high with a 20-run win over the Irish at the R Premadasa Stadium, a match that underlined the value of Hasaranga to the side. While Kamindu Mendis’ 19-ball 44 and Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 56 powered Sri Lanka to 163 for six after a stuttering start, it was Hasaranga’s decisive spell that turned the contest firmly in the co-hosts’ favour.
Ireland, chasing 164, were bowled out for 143 in 19.5 overs despite fighting knocks from Ross Adair (34 off 23) and Harry Tector (40 off 34). Hasaranga returned figures of 3 for 25 in his four overs, striking crucial blows at key moments. He dismissed the dangerous Adair with a well-disguised googly in his first over and later removed Tector in the 16th, just as Ireland were attempting to build momentum.
The co-hosts will miss his experience and would need Theekshana to step up a bit more in the coming games. Sri Lanka will play Oman next on February 12 in Pallekele, followed by Australia and Zimbabwe on the 16th and the 19th, respectively. They’ll need to win at least two of those games to be in control of their chances of proceeding to the next round.
