Can Sri Lanka shift gears as a buoyant skipper claims? It requires character, clarity and more importantly consistency–three elements that Sri Lanka have rarely shown since lifted the title in 2014 in Dhaka. In 2016, the year they went in as defending champions, Sri Lanka bowed out with just a solitary win against Afghanistan. After their opening clash today, Sri Lanka will take on Oman in Pallekele on February 12, Australia, again in Pallekele on February 16, and Zimbabwe back in Colombo on February 19. Even if Ireland and Oman appear manageable on paper, recent evidence suggests Sri Lanka can no longer take any opponent lightly.

Source: Sunday Times February 07, 2026 20:10 UTC