Sri Lanka World Cup 2023 Squad Breakdown (The Definitive Guide): Which of these 15-men will make the Sri Lanka 2023 Cricket World Cup Playing XI?

by Nitesh Mathur | Oct 1, 2023 | Article Index, ODI World Cup

Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 Squad Breakdown – Everything you need to know.

Since the retirements of the Lankan greats – Dilshan, Jayawardene, Malinga, and Sangakkara, Sri Lanka have been in an elongated transition phase.

Since the 2021 T20 World Cup, a core group has come together that is beginning to bring the island nation some hope.

How will they fare in the 2023 ODI World Cup? Let’s discuss.

Key Takeaways from Sri Lanka’s World Cup 2023 ODI Squad Announcement

• The average age of Sri Lanka’s 2023 Cricket World Cup squad is 27.33. Sri Lanka have a younger squad ranging from Pathirana (20) & Wellalage (20) to Karunaratne (35).
• The 15-member Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad has average ODI experience of 43 matches (637 ODIs among 15 players). Hemantha (3), Madushanka (6), and Pathirana (10) are the newer faces on the block, while Kusal Mendis (112) & Kusal Perera (109) are their most experienced players.
• Sri Lanka’s’ squad composition is as follows: 5 proper batters, 4 all-rounders, and 6 proper bowling options. In total, Sri Lanka has 10 bowling options (2 off spin, 1 mystery spin, 1 left arm spin, 1 leg break, 1 left arm pace, and 4 right arm pace) in their squad if absolutely needed.
• Sri Lanka have 4 left-handed batting options (Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Charith Asalanka, Wellalage) and three wicketkeeping options.

Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup Team at a Glance

*Traveling Reserve

Sri Lanka Cricket World Cup 2023 Potential XI

1. Pathum Nissanka
2. Kusal Perera
3. Kusal Mendis (WK)
4. Sadeera Samarawickrama
5. Charith Asakalanka
6. Dhananjaya de Silva
7. Dasun Shanaka (C)
8. Dunith Wellalage
9. Mahesh Theekshana
10. Matheesha Pathirana
11. Dilshan Madushanka

Injury News

• Dusmantha Chameera (torn pectoral muscle)
• Wanindu Hasaranga (thigh strain)
• Mahesh Theekshana (in the squad, but returning from hamstring injury)
• Madushanka (coming back from torn oblique)
• Lahiru Kumara (coming back from side strain)

6 Sri Lankan Players Who Were Unlucky to Miss Out

• Hasaranga, Chameera
• Avishka Fernando
• Pramod Madhushan, Binura Fernando
• Bhanuka Rajapakse (retired early, came back, but considered more a T20I player)

2 Surprise Picks for Sri Lanka’s World Cup Squad

• Dushan Hemantha, Sadeera Samarawickrama

Sri Lanka Cup 2023 Squad – Complete List of Players

1. Kusal Perera

Role: Right Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 109/104
• Runs: 3088, Best: 135
• Average/SR: 31.19/92.51
• 100/50: 6/15
• Catches/Stumpings: 47/3

Recent ODI Form: 120, 73, 0, 9, 17, 0

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 33

Also Read: 18 Best Test Matches in the Past 4 Years That Have Revived Test Cricket – Who Said Test Matches Are Boring?

2. Pathum Nissanka

Role: Right Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 40/40
• Runs: 1396, Best: 137
• Average/SR: 37.72/83.64
• 100/50: 3/9

Recent ODI Form: 41, 40, 6, 29, 2

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 25

3. Dimuth Karunaratne

Role: Left Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 48/44
• Runs: 1301, Best: 103
• Average/SR: 32.52/79.71
• 100/50: 1/11

Recent ODI Form: 83, 1, 32, 18, 2

Last ODI: September 12, 2023

Age: 35

4. Kusal Mendis (Vice Captain/WicketKeeper)

Role: Right Hand Bat, Wicketkeeper

• Matches/Innings: 112/109
• Runs: 3215, Best: 119
• Average/SR: 32.15/84.44
• 100/50: 2/25
• Catches/Stumpings: 47/75

Recent ODI Form: 43, 5, 92, 50, 15, 91, 17

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 28

5. Sadeera Samarawickrama

Role: Right Hand Bat

• Matches/Innings: 23/20
• Runs: 615, Best: 93
• Average/SR: 32.36/90.30
• 100/50: 0/5
• Catches/Stumpings:

Recent ODI Form: 54, 3, 93, 17, 48, 0

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 28

6. Charith Asalanka

Role: Left Hand Bat/Right Arm Off-Spin

• Matches/Innings: 41/36
• Runs: 1272, Best: 110
• Average/SR: 41.03/89.26
• 100/50: 1/9
• Wickets: 5, Best: 4/18
• Economy: 4.35

Recent ODI Form: 62*, 36, 10, 22, 49*, 0 & 4/18, 0/1

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 26

7. Dhananjaya de Silva

Role: Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Off Spin

• Matches/Innings: 82/75
• Runs: 1725, Best of: 93
• Average/SR: 26.53/78.80
• 100/50:0/10, 4w/5w: 0/0
• Wickets: 44, Best: 3/32
• Economy: 4.95

Recent ODI Form: 14, 6,41, 5, 4 & 1/35, 2/12, 018, 0/28, 0/28

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 32

8. Dasun Shanaka (Captain)

Role: Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Pace

• Matches/Innings: 67/59
• Runs: 1204, Best of: 108*
• Average/SR: 22.29/92.04
• 100/50:2/3, 4w/5w: 0/1
• Wickets: 27, Best: 5/43
• Economy: 5.72

Recent ODI Form: 14*, 5, 24, 9, 2, 0 & 1/16, 0/32, 3/28, 0/24, 0/18

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 32

9. Dushan Hemantha

Role: Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Leg Spin

• Matches/Innings: 3/2
• Runs: 35, Best of: 22
• Average/SR: 35.00/100.00
• Wickets: 2, Best: 2/49
• Economy: 5.21

Recent ODI Form: 22, 13* & 0/50, 2/49

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 29

10. Dunith Wellalage

Role: Left Hand Bat/Left Arm Spin

• Matches/Innings: 15/14
• Runs: 195, Best: 42*
• Wickets: 19, Best: 5/40
• 4-fer/5-fer: 0/1
• Economy: 5.18

Recent ODI Form: 1/30, 2/36, 1/26, 5/40, 1/40, 0/7

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 20

11. Mahesh Theekshana

Role: Right Arm Mystery Spin

• Matches/Innings: 27/27
• Wickets: 44, Best: 4/25
• 4-fer/5-fer: 4/0
• Economy: 4.5

Recent ODI Form: 2/19, 1/62, 3/69, 1/41, 1/42

Last ODI: September 14, 2023

Age: 23

12. Matheesha Pathirana

Role: Right Arm Fast

• Matches/Innings: 10/10
• Wickets: 15, Best:4/32
• 4-fer/5-fer: 1/0
• Economy: 6.56

Recent ODI Form: 4/32, 1/63, 3/58, 0/31, 3/65, 0/21

Last ODI: September 17, 2023

Age: 20

13. Lahiru Kumara

Role: Left Hand Bat/ Right Arm Pace

• Matches/Innings: 26/26
• Wickets: 34, Best:3/22
• Economy: 6.42

Recent ODI Form: 1/26, 3/22, 1/33, 1/30, 1/17

Last ODI: June 30, 2023

Age: 26

14. Kasun Rajitha

Role: Right Arm Pace

• Matches/Innings: 28/28
• Wickets: 35, Best: 4/79
• 4-fer/5-fer: 1/0
• Economy: 5.92

Recent ODI Form: 0/29, 4/79, 0/29, 0/30

Last ODI: September 12, 2023

Age: 30

15. Dilshan Madhushanka

Role: Right Hand Bat/Left Arm Pace

• Matches/Innings: 6/6
• Wickets: 10, Best :3/15
• Economy: 5.202

Recent ODI Form: 1/38, 3/15, 1/49, 3/18

Last ODI: July 9, 2023

Age: 23

Reserve

16. Chamika Karunaratne

Role: Right Hand Bat/Right Arm Pace

• Matches/Innings: 23/21
• Runs: 443, Best: 75
• Wickets: 24, Best: 4/43
• 4-fer/5-fer: 1/9
• Economy: 5.72

Recent ODI Form: 1/14, 17, 1, 11, 24 & 1/54, 2/51, 1/58, 4/43, 0/26

Last ODI: March 31, 2023

Age: 27

Final Thoughts

Frequently Asked Questions

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