Charith Asalanka named skipper as Sri Lanka announce squad for India T20 series

Charith Asalanka will take over as captain for Sri Lanka’s upcoming three-match T20I series against India, following Wanindu Hasaranga’s decision to step down from the role. The series will be held in Pallekele at the end of this month.

Asalanka returns to the captaincy after previously leading the team in two T20Is against Bangladesh earlier this year, when Hasaranga was suspended. Under Hasaranga’s leadership, Sri Lanka secured only one victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, beating The Netherlands in their final group stage match.

The squad for the series sees significant changes. Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, who were part of the World Cup campaign, have been omitted. Additionally, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dilshan Madhushanka have been dropped. Replacements include Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Binura Fernando, and Avishka Fernando.


The Pallekele International Stadium will host the T20I matches of the upcoming series, while the R Premadasa Stadium will be the venue for the ODI games.

Both teams will be led by new head coaches for this series. Sanath Jayasuriya, the legendary all-rounder, has been appointed as the interim head coach for Sri Lanka. For India, former opener Gautam Gambhir will be taking on his first assignment as head coach, succeeding Rahul Dravid, who guided India to victory in the T20 World Cup.

India's last bilateral white-ball series in Sri Lanka was in July 2021, when Rahul Dravid was at the helm. During that tour, India won the ODI series 2-1, while Sri Lanka claimed the T20I series by the same margin.

Sri Lanka squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Janith Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando