Sri Lanka have suffered a huge blow early in the T20 World Cup 2026, with Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a left hamstring injury.
The all-rounder picked up the injury during Sri Lanka’s opening match against Ireland in Colombo but still pushed through to finish his spell and turn the game in the hosts’ favour.
An MRI scan later confirmed the strain would keep him out for around four weeks, effectively ending his World Cup at home just one match into the campaign.
Hasaranga’s exit hurts even more because of what he delivered in that opener. Defending 164, he finished with 3 for 25, removing Ross Adair and Harry Tector and choking Ireland through the middle overs.
He worked in tandem with Maheesh Theekshana, who also picked up three wickets, as Sri Lanka sealed a 20-run win to start the tournament on a positive note.
With the bat, Sri Lanka rode on a late burst from Kamindu Mendis, who smashed 44 off 19 balls, while Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with an unbeaten 56 to take the total to 163 for 6.
That match also saw Hasaranga climb to second place on the all-time T20 World Cup wicket-takers list, underlining his value as Sri Lanka’s bowling leader.
In response to the injury, Sri Lanka have named Dushan Hemantha as Hasaranga’s replacement. The 31-year-old leg-spinner has limited international exposure, with five ODIs and three T20Is to his name.
Hemantha has taken six wickets in T20Is so far and carries an economy rate of 7.85, numbers that show promise but also highlight the experience gap he now needs to bridge.
Hasaranga’s absence leaves a big hole in Sri Lanka’s bowling plans. The pressure will now be squarely on Theekshana and the supporting attack to control games without their main strike weapon.
Sri Lanka face Oman on February 12 in Pallekele, followed by tough games against Australia and Zimbabwe. With the group finely balanced, the hosts are likely to need at least two more wins to stay in the race for the next round.
Losing their talisman so early has forced an immediate reshuffle, turning what started as a confident campaign into a serious test of depth and nerve.