Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, suffered a huge blow ahead of the third and final T20I of the series against Harry Brook’s England. Star leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga will miss the upcoming match for Sri Lanka, which has raised concerns over his fitness for the much-awaited 2026 T20 World Cup.
Sri Lanka will play England in the third T20I at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, February 3. The home side will look to avoid a whitewash after losing their first two matches against the dominant England side as another defeat could dent their confidence ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of third T20I against England
Wanindu Hasaranga is unlikely to feature in the third T20I against England. Journalist Danushka Aravinda stated that Hasaranga is about to undergo minor surgery, leaving his availability for the final match in doubt.
“Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is likely to miss the third T20I against England tomorrow due to minor surgery,” Aravinda wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).
BREAK 🚨
Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is likely to miss the third T20I against England tomorrow due to minor surgery.#sportspavilionlk #danushkaaravinda #ENGvsSL #SLvsENG pic.twitter.com/FB8s63qZRO
— DANUSHKA ARAVIINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) February 2, 2026
Hasaranga has had a lot of trouble with the ball in the first two games. The leg-spinner has not taken any wickets in the series, recording figures of 0/36 and 0/44 against England.
Wanindu Hasaranga’s Impact on T20I Cricket
Wanindu Hasaranga is one of Sri Lanka’s best spinners in T20I cricket. Since his debut in 2019, he has consistently broken partnerships and troubled batters across the world, especially during the middle overs.
Hasaranga has taken 151 wickets in 94 T20I matches at an average of 16.21 and an economy rate of 7.03. His best bowling performance came against India where he claimed figures of 4/9.
He also adds value with the bat. Hasaranga often comes in during pressure situations and plays with intent. He has scored 806 runs at a strike rate of 126.53, with a highest score of 71.
Sri Lanka relies on him in the middle overs with the ball. Without Hasaranga, the bowling attack looks weaker and lacks the sharpness needed to counter England’s batting line-up.
Sri Lanka begins 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland
Sri Lanka will start their 2026 T20 World Cup campaign against Ireland in Colombo. They will then play Oman on February 12 and Australia in Pallekele on February 16. Their last group match is on February 19 in Colombo against Zimbabwe.
Sri Lanka had a poor run in the 2024 T20 World Cup. They were eliminated in the group stage and managed only one win, beating the Netherlands by 83 points. They lost to South Africa by six wickets and to Bangladesh by two wickets, while their match against Nepal was abandoned due to rain.
The team also struggled in the 2023 ODI World Cup, finishing in the penultimate place with just two wins in nine matches. Sri Lanka will now look to turn things around and perform better in the 2026 T20 World Cup.
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