Sri Lanka is one of the countries that have won the T20I World Cup. They won it in the year 2014 by defeating India. Sri Lanka are one of the few teams that have this many players in the All Time XI in all the three formats of cricket. They are a team that have been in transition and have not been able to assemble a good team in the last 5 years in any format. World Cricket needs Sri Lanka to do well because as it is there is a shortage of good teams.
Let’s look at the All Time Sri Lankan T20I Cricket XI
Opening Batters
Sanath Jayasuriya
The opening combination which was in the All Time Sri Lankan ODI Cricket XI will be the one to open the innings in T20I Cricket. Sanath Jayasuriya might not have played a lot of T20Is but he had the game to excel in this format. He played 31 T20Is for Sri Lanka in his career. Sanath Jayasuriya made 629 runs at an average of 23.40. He has a strike rate of 129.16. Sanath Jayasuriya has hit 4 half centuries in this format with a highest score of 88. He will be the left handed attacking opening batter.
Tilakaratne Dilshan
Tilakaratne Dilshan is a white ball great in Sri Lankan Cricket. He easily walks into this team as the second Opening batter. Dilshan has played in 80 T20Is for Sri Lanka in his career. He scored 1889 runs at an average of 28.19. Dilshan hit 13 half centuries and he has a highest score of 104*. Dilshan has a strike rate of 120.55 and he has hit 33 sixes for Sri Lanka.
Middle Order
Kumar Sangakkara (WK)
At number 3 is a batter that is in the All Time Sri Lankan Cricket XI in all the three formats. Kumar Sangakkara is truly one of the greatest batters to ever play for Sri Lanka and certainly the best Wicket Keeper. He played 56 T20Is for Sri Lanka. Kumar Sangakkara made 1382 runs at an average of 31.42. He hit 8 half centuries in this format with a highest score of 78. Kumar Sangakkara had a low strike rate of 119.55 in this format while playing for Sri Lanka. Kumar Sangakkara took 25 catches as a wicket Keeper and he had 20 stumpings to his name in T20Is.
Mahela Jayawardene (C)
The captain of the team and the number 4 batter in this team is Mahela Jayawardene. He is also a player that is in all the 3 teams for Sri Lanka across formats. He was technically the most correct batter. He played 55 T20Is for Sri Lanka. Mahela Jayawardene scored 1493 runs at an average of 31.77. He has 9 half centuries and 1 hundred to his name in T20Is. Mahela Jayawardene had a good strike rate of 133.19.
Angelo Mathews
One of the most experienced players to play T20I Cricket for Sri Lanka and a proper all rounder is Angelo Mathews. He is a player that was ready to give it his all in every match and contribute in any way he could. Angelo Mathews played 90 T20Is in his career for Sri Lanka. He made 1416 runs at an average of 27.76. Angelo Mathews has 6 half centuries to his name in this format with a highest score of 81*. Angelo Mathews has hit 50 sixes for Sri Lanka in T20I Cricket. He has also taken 44 Wickets at an average of 31.57. Angelo Mathews will provide the team with the perfect balance.
Kusal Perera
At number 6 for Sri Lanka is Kusal Perera. He is one of the few batters to have hit more than 2000 runs in the format. Kusal Perera has so far played in 80 T20Is for Sri Lanka. He has so far scored 2080 runs at an average of 27.37. He has so far hit an impressive 15 half centuries and a highest score of 101. He has scored a 50+ score in 1 out of every 5 Matches he has played. Kusal Perera has a strike rate of 133.08 and he has hit 66 sixes for Sri Lanka.
Lower Order and Bowlers
Thisara Perera
Another fast bowling all rounder that Sri Lanka has had for years and he was a great partner to Angelo Mathews is Thisara Perera. He is someone that was very useful batting at number 7. Thisara Perera played 84 T20Is for Sri Lanka in his career. He made 1204 runs at an average of 23.05. He has hit 3 half centuries in this format. Thisara Perera has a very good strike rate of 151.64. He has smashed 64 Sixes for Sri Lanka in T20I Cricket. Thisara Perera has also taken 51 wickets at an average of 33.67.
Lasith Malinga
The first out and out fast bowler to be in this team is Lasith Malinga. He is a true great in white ball cricket for Sri Lanka. Lasith Malinga was the yorker king. He played in 84 T20IS for Sri Lanka in his career. Malinga took 107 Wickets at an average of 20.79 which was very good. He took 2 Five Wicket Hauls and 3 Four Wicket Hauls in T20I Cricket. He has best bowling figures of 5/6 which is mind blowing. Lasith Malinga has an economy of 7.42 in this format.
Nuwan Kulasekara
The second fast bowler in this team will be Nuwan Kulasekara. This man is best known as the bowler that MS Dhoni hit for a six to win the World Cup for India. He is a great player in T20I Cricket. He has played in 58 T20Is for Sri Lanka in which he has taken 66 Wickets. He has an average of 23.18 with 2 Four Wicket Hauls in this format. Nuwan Kulasekara has an economy of 7.46 which is tremendous because he does not express fast like Lasith Malinga.
Wanindu Hasaranga
There will be 2 spinners in this team. The first of which was the easiest selection. This man is the highest wicket taker for Sri Lanka in T20I Cricket. He has so far played in 79 T20Is for Sri Lanka. He has taken an impressive 131 Wickets at an average of 15.41 which is astounding. He has taken 4 Four Wicket Hauls in T20I Cricket. Wanindu Hasaranga has an economy of 6.99 and he has best bowling figures of 4/9. He will look to get close to the 209 Wickets Mark.
Ajantha Mendis
The second spinner in this team and the last player to be selected in this team is Ajantha Mendis. He was one of the first spinners to make an impact. He played 39 T20Is for Sri Lanka. Ajantha Mendis took 66 wickets at an average of 14.42 which is unheard of. He took 2 Five Wicket Hauls and 5 Four Wicket Hauls in T20I Cricket. Ajantha Mendis has best bowling figures of 6/8 which is one of the best of all time. He has an economy of 6.45 which is almost impossible these days.
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