Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Wednesday, December 17, appointed R. Sridhar as fielding coach for the men’s national team until the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka. The former India coach will also be part of the coaching line-up for Sri Lanka’s upcoming series against England and Pakistan.
Sridhar brings a wealth of experience to his new role, having spent seven years as India’s fielding coach between 2014 and 2021. During that period, he was part of more than 300 international matches across different formats. The former Hyderabad cricketer has also worked as an advisor to the Afghanistan cricket team.
Sri Lanka cricket ropes in R. Sridhar for T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka Cricket said that R. Sridhar will strengthen the team’s field in preparation for the upcoming global tournament. The board noted that he is a BCCI Level 3 coach with extensive experience.
“R Sridhar, a BCCI Level 3 qualified coach, was the fielding coach of the Indian National Men’s Team from 2014 to 2021, during which he played over 300 international matches,” SLC said in an official press release.
Sridhar is already familiar with Sri Lanka’s setup after conducting a specialized 10-day field camp at the National High Performance Center earlier this year. He will join the coaching group from December 11 until the end of the T20 World Cup in March 2026.
During this period, he will oversee the fielding for Sri Lanka’s series against England and Pakistan, as well as their World Cup campaign.
Sri Lankan players have always stood for instinctive brilliance – R. Sridhar
R. Sridhar said he will focus on building confidence and natural field strength without rigid methods. Sridhar emphasized that he would create a positive environment that encourages sportsmanship, awareness and pride.
“Sri Lankan players have always stood for instinctive brilliance, resilience and collective spirit. My role is not to impose a system but to nurture an environment where athleticism, awareness and pride on the field can grow naturally,” Sridhar said in a statement issued by SLC.
Sri Lanka has strengthened its coaching line-up in recent months by adding Julian Wood, who specializes in power-hitting, and spin coach Rene Ferdinands. Former captain Sanath Jayasuriya will continue to take charge of the team as head coach.
Fielding thrives when players feel connected to the ball – R. Sridhar
Sridhar stated that strong fieldwork comes from awareness and not just from practice. He said Sri Lanka players’ natural strengths such as quick reflexes and fearless intent can be further improved by training in match-like situations that bring players closer to real game moments.
“Fielding thrives when players feel connected to the ball, to each other and to the moment. Sri Lanka’s traditional strengths – quick hands, sharp reflexes and fearless intentions – can be further enhanced by creating realistic, game-like learning environments,” Sridhar further added.
Sri Lanka has been placed in Group B for the T20 World Cup, where they will compete against Australia, Ireland, Oman and Zimbabwe. They start their campaign at home in Colombo, with an opening match against Ireland on February 8 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
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