Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) has announced that Wanindu Hasaranga, who became the T20I captain earlier this year, has stepped down less than seven months into his role.

This decision follows a poor performance in the T20 World Cup 2024, where Sri Lanka failed to advance to the Super 8s, winning only one match. Under Hasaranga’s leadership, they were eliminated in the group stages after a heavy loss to South Africa and a narrow defeat to Bangladesh.

Hasaranga steps down as T20I captain

“Sri Lanka Cricket wants to inform the public that Wanindu Hasaranga has resigned as the National Men’s T20I captain,” SLC said in a statement.

“Hasaranga believes stepping down is in the best interest of Sri Lanka cricket. He will continue to play for the team,” the statement added.

In his own statement, Hasaranga said, “I will always give my best for Sri Lanka as a player and will continue to support my team and its leadership.”

Hasaranga, took over from Dasun Shanaka at the beginning of the year and led the team to series wins against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. However, after a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign, he decided to resign after just 10 games.

Sri Lanka has not yet named Hasaranga’s replacement.

In a dramatic turn of events, Sri Lanka’s sports minister, Roshan Ranasinghe, was dismissed from his position after accusing President Ranil Wickremesinghe of plotting his assassination due to his efforts to combat corruption within the cricket board.

Ranasinghe, who had been engaged in a contentious relationship with Wickremesinghe over the management of Sri Lanka Cricket, expressed concerns in parliament, asserting that the president and his chief of staff would be accountable if any harm befell him in the course of his anti-corruption initiatives.

The dismissal occurred just before the weekly cabinet meeting, with no immediate response from Wickremesinghe’s office, except for confirmation of the minister’s removal. Ranasinghe had previously ousted the elected cricket board, alleging severe corruption, a claim vehemently denied by board members who are challenging the accusation in court.

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The cricket board, the nation’s wealthiest sports organization, faced suspension by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for failing to prevent government interference.Despite calls from the president to reverse the board’s dismissal, Ranasinghe stood firm, backed by a non-binding resolution passed by parliament three weeks prior, urging the cricket board to resign pending a forensic audit of its finances. Wickremesinghe responded by appointing a committee to investigate the ICC suspension and the ongoing cricket crisis.

Against the backdrop of a debt-ridden country, defaulting on a $46 billion debt in April the previous year, Sri Lanka’s economic struggles have been exacerbated. The International Cricket Council’s suspension further compounds the challenges faced by the island nation, which has experienced civil unrest and political upheaval in recent times, culminating in the ouster of the former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa amidst widespread protests.

IND vs SL: A few years ago, Sri Lanka was truly pathetic in the ODI format, but look, they’re a little better now. Or this is at least what we’re hoping. In the last year, they’ve won six of their 10 completed ODIs. Full disclosure, six of those matches were against Zimbabwe and Afghanistan. But then there was a glorious home series victory over Australia as well. In general, they are passing off as a team on an upward trajectory.

The problem is, India of course are monster at home. IND vs SL, Since the start of 2020, They’ve won nine of their 12 completed ODIs in the country (and how strange a reality that India have only played 12 ODIs at home in the space of three years, when there used to be a time when they would have played 12 against Sri Lanka alone in that time.) IND vs SL, And let’s not talk about how the teams line up on paper. Because on paper, India tend to smash Sri Lanka every time now. IND vs SL, Thankfully, on the field, the rivalry has not been quite so one-sided, in T20Is at least.

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But we’re switching to ODI mode now, the World Cup in India late this year on everyone’s horizon. Sri Lanka have some serious personnel-searching to do before then. IND vs SL, Who will support the (currently injured) Dushmantha Chameera as a seam-bowling quick? Is the talented but uncapped (in this format) Dilshan Madushanka the bowler they will look to? How about hit-the-deck seam-merchant Kasun Rajitha? Or will they go back to the quicker Lahiru Kumara, who in 15 ODIs, has not impressed, but has recently shown signs of improvement with the white ball?

And can they get their spin attack sorted? Wanindu Hasaranga is a world-beating T20 legspinner, but his ODI record is modest in comparison. Maheesh Theekshana’s is only a little better. They are rightly Sri Lanka’s top picks, but have some work to do in this format. India have so much less to work out, and less to prove. Theirs are problems of plenty. If he does play, then one of Shreyas Iyer, or KL Rahul, both of whom have ODI averages well into the 40s, will likely have to make way.

Sri Lanka has gone through eight T20Is in the last month and didn’t have results going their way on all but one occasion. Injury and Covid has impacted the side but there are aspects to look at and some positives as well in the recent stretch of games.

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The Top Order is settled

Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis are a part of the top-three and have given a strong showing in recent games. The three look solid, and a good line-up could be made around them as it seems tough to see anyone else in the top-three. Asalanka in particular is doing a good job and was a star for Sri Lanka in the previous T20 World Cup.

Lahiru Kumara’s Pace Works in T20 Cricket

Through the T20s, Lahiru Kumara looked very scary at the early stages of the innings. He has a mean bouncer and his short-ball to Ishan Kishan is an example of how he can distract a bouncer and put pressure. He is still not to strong in the death but if used properly, Kumara can be a wonderful wicket-taker in the early parts of the game. He has a partner in Dushmantha Chameera, who bowls just as fast, if not faster, and the two bowlers could make a massive difference in Australia if they get into a rhythm.

Dinesh Chandimal’s Time is Running out

Dinesh Chandimal is probably the most experienced players in the squad and is one of the few players to have played with the star line-up including the likes of Sangakkara, Jayawardene and Dilshan. He has been around for a long time but is not able to translate his form in other formats to T20 Cricket. He has a strike-rate of 104 in the format and struggled through the series to make an impact. With the likes of Dickwella in the hut, Chandimal will have to find a way to change his approach soon.

Dasun Shanaka Emerges as a Finisher

For a long time Shanaka has been seen as a talent who gives a glimpse of what he can do. In the previous T20I series though, Shanaka carried the team and gave hope to Sri Lanka that they can build a team around him as a finisher, with Hasaranga and the top-order doing their bit. He took apart some quality bowlers in the last two T20Is, an his big-hitting may just be what Sri Lanka need in the T20 World Cup.

The Fielding has a long way to go

If there is one aspect that saw Sri Lanka lose out badly it would be fielding. They were competitive at various parts this series but the fielding along costed them nearly 15-20 runs an innings. There were a lot of misfields and dropped catches which helped India bat with more freedom, rotate strike and keep the scoreboard ticking. Sri Lanka’s fielding coach will have to work on both the ground fielding and catching as these are aspects which can play a vital role in changing the course of a game.