Sri Lanka’s 15-member squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 is led by veteran Chamari Athapaththu, who features at her 10th consecutive T20 World Cup.
Notably, eight players were named for their maiden T20 World Cup appearance. Additionally, Chethana Vimukthi was drafted in late after ambidextrous spinner Shashini Gimhani was ruled out by a lower-back injury.
Sri Lanka kick off the entire tournament against hosts England on 12 June 2026 at Edgbaston in Birmingham. Furthermore, the side enters in form after a recent 3-0 T20I series whitewash.
Sri Lanka Women’s Squad for T20 World Cup 2026: Full 15-Player List
Here is the complete Sri Lanka women’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2026, announced by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on 29 May 2026, with the injury-enforced change confirmed in early June.
| # | Player | Role | Batting Style | Bowling Style |
| 1 | Chamari Athapaththu (c) | Opening Batter / Off-spinner | Left-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 2 | Hasini Perera | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 3 | Vishmi Gunaratne | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | — |
| 4 | Harshitha Samarawickrama | Top-order Batter | Right-hand | — |
| 5 | Imesha Dulani | Batter (debutant) | Right-hand | — |
| 6 | Nilakshika Silva | All-rounder | Left-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 7 | Kavisha Dilhari | Spin All-rounder | Left-hand | Right-arm off-break |
| 8 | Kaushini Nuthyangana (wk) | Wicketkeeper-batter (debutant) | Right-hand | — |
| 9 | Hansima Karunaratne | Batter (debutant) | Right-hand | — |
| 10 | Sugandika Dasanayaka | Spinner (debutant) | Right-hand | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| 11 | Nimasha Madushani | All-rounder (debutant) | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 12 | Malki Madara | Pacer (debutant) | Right-hand | Right-arm medium-fast |
| 13 | Kawya Kavindi | Pacer (debutant) | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 14 | Mithali Ayodhya | Swing Pacer (debutant) | Right-hand | Right-arm medium |
| 15 | Chethana Vimukthi | Pacer (replacement) | Right-hand | Right-arm medium-fast |
Notably, Shashini Gimhani missed out due to a lower-back injury after originally being named in the 15. Furthermore, experienced spinner Inoka Ranaweera was also among the senior players left out of the World Cup unit.
Squad Breakdown by Role: Batters, All-Rounders, Spinners & Pacers
Sri Lanka’s squad blends an experienced core with eight maiden World Cup names. Specifically, the side carries five top-order batters, one keeper, three all-rounders, two specialist spinners, and four pacers.
Top-Order Batters
Captain Chamari Athapaththu opens the batting. Furthermore, Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, and Imesha Dulani round out the batting unit.
Wicketkeeper-Batter
Young Kaushini Nuthyangana takes the gloves as the specialist keeper. Notably, she stepped in for Anushka Sanjeewani during the recent India tour and retained her place on form.
All-Rounders
Kavisha Dilhari leads the all-round group. Additionally, Nilakshika Silva and debutant Nimasha Madushani offer secondary bowling options to ease the captain’s workload.
Spinners
Between Athapaththu and Dilhari, the side has its off-spin angle covered. Meanwhile, Sugandika Dasanayaka adds the only left-arm orthodox angle in the squad following Gimhani’s withdrawal.
Pace Bowling Department
Debutant Malki Madara is set to lead the seam attack alongside Kawya Kavindi. Furthermore, 19-year-old swing bowler Mithali Ayodhya and injury replacement Chethana Vimukthi add depth.
Key Players to Watch in Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2026 Squad
Several names carry the bulk of expectations for the islanders. Specifically, the spine of the side blends Athapaththu’s legendary status with the rise of Samarawickrama and Dilhari.
Chamari Athapaththu (Captain, Opening Batter)
Athapaththu features at her 10th consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup, an extraordinary milestone. Notably, she has been the No. 1 ranked T20I batter at points during 2025-26 and remains Sri Lanka’s most decorated cricketer.
Harshitha Samarawickrama (Top-Order Batter)
Samarawickrama served as deputy on the recent India tour. Furthermore, her partnership with Kavisha Dilhari in the 2024 Asia Cup final win underlined her big-match temperament.
Kavisha Dilhari (Spin All-Rounder)
Dilhari combines clean middle-order hitting with off-spin economy. Additionally, she was central to Sri Lanka’s 2024 Women’s Asia Cup triumph against India in the final.
Vishmi Gunaratne (Top-Order Batter)
Gunaratne offers a steady opening or top-order option alongside Athapaththu. Moreover, her ability to absorb pressure inside the powerplay frees the captain to play her natural game.
Malki Madara (Lead Pacer)
Madara leads a new-look seam attack on her T20 World Cup debut. Specifically, English seaming conditions in June should suit her medium-fast lengths.
Mithali Ayodhya (Swing Pacer)
The 19-year-old made her international debut in late April 2026. Notably, she operates around 110-115 kmph but generates swing with the new ball.
Eight T20 World Cup Debutants in Sri Lanka’s Squad
Eight players were named for their first Women’s T20 World Cup when the original 15 was unveiled. Specifically, the selection reflects a deliberate generational refresh around Athapaththu.
- Imesha Dulani — middle-order batter.
- Hansima Karunaratne — batter rewarded for domestic form.
- Kaushini Nuthyangana — wicketkeeper-batter; took the gloves on the recent India T20I tour.
- Sugandika Dasanayaka — left-arm spinner adding the orthodox angle.
- Nimasha Madushani — medium-pace all-rounder.
- Kawya Kavindi — right-arm medium-pacer supporting the seam attack.
- Malki Madara — lead seamer for the campaign.
- Mithali Ayodhya — 19-year-old new-ball swing specialist.
Additionally, injury replacement Chethana Vimukthi is also uncapped at T20I level, with only three ODIs to her name. Therefore, the final squad effectively carries nine players new to the global stage.
Chamari Athapaththu Leads Sri Lanka at Her 10th T20 World Cup
Athapaththu captains Sri Lanka at her 10th consecutive Women’s T20 World Cup. Specifically, she has featured in every edition since the inaugural 2009 tournament, a remarkable longevity stat for any cricketer.
Furthermore, the captain remains Sri Lanka’s most decorated player. Notably, she led the side to their first Women’s Asia Cup title in 2024 by beating India in the final.
Sri Lanka’s Group 2 Opponents at Women’s T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka sit in Group 2. Specifically, they face hosts England, defending champions New Zealand, West Indies, Ireland, and Scotland.
| Team | Captain | Note |
| Sri Lanka | Chamari Athapaththu | 2024 Women’s Asia Cup champions |
| England | Nat Sciver-Brunt | Hosts and 2009 champions |
| New Zealand | Amelia Kerr | Defending champions |
| West Indies | Hayley Matthews | 2016 T20 WC winners |
| Ireland | Gaby Lewis | Qualified via Nepal qualifier |
| Scotland | Kathryn Bryce | Second T20 WC appearance |
Sri Lanka’s Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Match Schedule
Sri Lanka play five group-stage matches across four English venues. Notably, the side features in the tournament opener against hosts England at Edgbaston on 12 June.
| Date | Match | Opponent | Venue (Start, BST) |
| 12 June (Fri) | 1 | England | Edgbaston, Birmingham (18:30) |
| 16 June (Tue) | 2 | New Zealand | Hampshire Bowl, Southampton (14:30) |
| 21 June (Sun) | 3 | West Indies | Bristol County Ground, Bristol (10:30) |
| 23 June (Tue) | 4 | Ireland | Bristol County Ground, Bristol (14:30) |
| 26 June (Fri) | 5 | Scotland | Old Trafford, Manchester |
Pre-Tournament Build-Up: Two ICC Warm-Up Matches
Before the World Cup, Sri Lanka played two official ICC warm-up matches in England. Furthermore, recent international form heading into the campaign has been encouraging.
- Warm-up 1: vs Pakistan, 6 June 2026
- Warm-up 2: vs Netherlands, 9 June 2026
Notably, Sri Lanka arrived after a 3-0 T20I series whitewash, plus encouraging recent results against New Zealand (1-1 draw in March 2025) and West Indies (a 2-0 series win earlier in 2026).
Sri Lanka’s Women’s T20 World Cup Record So Far
Sri Lanka have featured in every edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup since the inaugural 2009 tournament. However, the side has yet to reach a semi-final.
- Editions played: Ten, including 2026 (debuted in 2009).
- Best result: Multiple group-stage wins; never reached knockouts at a T20 World Cup.
- Most recent major title: 2024 Women’s Asia Cup, beating India in the final under Athapaththu.
Therefore, the 2026 campaign carries clear ambition. Specifically, Sri Lanka are no longer a one-star team and arrive with a more collective batting effort around Athapaththu than at previous editions.
Conclusion: New-Look Sri Lanka Targets a First T20 WC Semi-Final
Sri Lanka’s T20 World Cup 2026 squad mixes Athapaththu’s once-in-a-generation experience with eight maiden World Cup debutants. Furthermore, the spin core and emerging seamers offer genuine variety in English conditions.
Consequently, the islanders enter the tournament with realistic ambition. Sri Lanka open against hosts England on 12 June at Edgbaston, eyeing a first ICC Women’s T20 World Cup semi-final appearance in their history.
