Asia Cup 2022: Predicted Sri Lanka Playing XI

The 2022 Asia Cup is around the corner, and six subcontinent sides are going to wrestle for the coveted prize in just two weeks. Sri Lanka, who were originally designated to host the tournament, are one of the dark horses, and could go all the way in the upcoming edition of the much-awaited tournament. The five-time Asia Cup winners and the second most successful side behind India, Sri Lanka are going through a transitional phase, both in the country and in the team. They have time and again showcased their incredible fighting spirit in desperate times and possess some world-class players in their ranks, who can trouble the best of sides on their day. Ahead of the Asia Cup 2022, here is the predicted XI of Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka Pathum Nissanka. (Photo by ISHARA S. KODIKARA/AFP via Getty Images) Sri Lanka’s right-hand opening batter Pathum Nissanka is just one year into his international career but has already showcased his talent with some memorable innings, especially in white-ball cricket. The 24-year-old did not perform up to his usual high standard in the T20I series against World Champions Australia in June but made amends in the ODI series that followed. He registered two 50+ scores in the five-match series, including a match-winning ton in the third ODI. The only downside to the young talented batter is his pragmatic approach in the shortest form of the game and he will be under immense pressure to provide the islanders with a brisk start at the top of the order in the upcoming tournament. 2. Danushka Gunathilaka Sri Lanka cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka. (Photo Source: Twitter) Danishka Gunathilaka will partner with the inexperienced Nissanka at the top of the order for Sri Lanka. The southpaw, unlike his opening partner, has been on a wretched run of form and has scored a solitary half-century in his previous six outings for the national team. Gunathilaka will have to showcase the immense potential that got him into the Sri Lankan team in the first place in 2016. The left-handed batter has featured in 39 T20Is, scoring a meager 678, averaging an abysmal 17.84, with three half centuries. Unlike Nissanka, Gunathilaka is on a block of thin ice and needs to perform sooner rather than later if he wants to be in contention for the T20 World Cup later this year in Australia. 3. Charith Asalanka Charith Asalanka. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images) Charith Asalanka is another young Sri Lankan batter who has made great strides in white-ball cricket since making his debut for the national team in ODIs in June last year. The southpaw is an instinctive batter and is known for his positive intent at the crease. He was instrumental in Sri Lanka’s historic ODI series triumph against the might Australians in June earlier this year, as his tremendous century in the fourth ODI sealed a memorable series victory for the hosts. Asalanka has been given the responsibility to bat at no.3 for the islanders, and his approach at the crease will be key for the national team heading into the continental tournament. 4. Kusal Mendis (wk) Kusal Mendis of Sri Lanka. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images) Kusal Mendis is arguably the most talented batter in the Sri Lankan playing XI and will be crucial for their chances heading into the Asia Cup later this month. The 27-year-old elegant batter is a vital cog in the middle order. Mendis made his debut for the national side in 2015 and instantly rose to fame with his impeccable application and technique at the crease, especially in the longest format of the game. The middle-order bulwark will have to replicate the form he has shown in red-ball cricket in the shortest format of the game. Sri Lanka will be relying heavily on the compact batter as the top order have failed frequently, in the recent outings. 5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa Sri Lanka cricketer Bhanuka Rajapaksa. (Photo Source: Twitter) The explosive left-hand batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa is Sri Lanka’s wild card in the batting line-up. Though the southpaw plays with a smile on his face, he leaves the bowlers with a few headaches with his incredible power-hitting abilities. Rajapaksa showcased his six-hitting abilities in the 2022 edition of the IPL, featuring for the Punjab Kings as a pinch hitter in the middle overs. He was given the license to have a go at the bowlers, something that comes naturally to the batter. Unfortunately, the 30-year-old has failed to transcend his batting prowess from the domestic leagues to the international level as he had a miserable run with the bat in the T20I series against Australia, failing to even breach the 20-run mark in three outings. 6. Dasun Shanaka (c) Dasun Shanaka. (Photo Source: Twitter) Sri Lanka’s white-ball skipper Dasun Shanka is their most valuable asset in the team, not only because of his leadership qualities but also with his never-say-die attitude with the bat in hand. Shanaka started as an all-rounder for the Sri Lankan team but has played purely as a batter in the last six months, especially in T20Is. His presence at the crease has inspired the team to some incredible victories recently. The mercurial Sri Lankan skipper has scored two half-centuries in his last five T20Is, including a sensational 54 off 25 deliveries to complete an unprecedented heist against the Aussies in June. He will have to repeat his heroics if Sri Lanka wishes to go deep into the upcoming tournament. 7. Wanindu Hasaranga Wanindu Hasaranga. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images) Wanindu Hasaranga is easily Sri Lanka’s biggest weapon as the deceptive leggie has bamboozled some of the best batters in the shortest format of the game. Hasaranga was the leading wicket-taker in T20Is in 2021 and continued his sensational form in IPL 2022 for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scalping a total of 26 wickets, just one short of the Purple Cap winner Yuzvendra Chahal. The 25-year-old will need support from his teammates as he is a wicket-tacking option for Shanaka and might go for runs every now and then. The leggie can use the long handle as well and can provide some lusty blows at the end of the innings. 8. Chamika Karunaratne Chamika Karunaratne. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Chamika Karunaratne is another Sri Lankan player who will need to pull up his socks for the national team, especially in the shortest format of the game. The right-arm pacer has featured in 25 T20Is for the islanders and has had a poor return of just 11 wickets. Although the 26-year-old has failed to dismiss batters consistently, he has done relatively well in the middle overs, stifling the flow of runs. His variations are also going to be key at the pitches in UAE. Karunaratne will be responsible for leading the pace attack alongside Dushmantha Chameera as Sri Lanka head into the Asia Cup as massive underdogs. 9. Dushmantha Chameera Dushmantha Chameera. (Photo Source: Twitter) Dushmantha Chameera will be spearheading the Sri Lankan pace attack in the upcoming tournament as the management will be hoping that his exploits with the new ball can hand the team an advantage in the tough fixtures. Chameera is a lanky fast bowler who can clock in the higher 140kph regularly. But his pace has often been his weakness as his erratic line and length have provided the opposition batters easy run-scoring opportunities. The 30-year-old can also produce some absolute corkers in the death overs with his ability to land sharp yorkers. He will have to come to the fore for the second most successful side in the tournament’s history. 10. Maheesh Theekshana Maheesh Theekshana. (Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images) Sri Lanka has been blessed with some incredibly talented spinners in their cricketing history, and Maheesh Theekshana is another jewel to have risen from the island nation. While Theekshana might not be as attacking as Hasaranga, his guile and deception with the ball in hand never let the batters settle at the crease and he keeps them on their toes. The 22-year-old’s action and bowling style is a bit similar to Indian bowling ace Ravichandran Ashwin, and he often uses the carrom ball to deceive the batters, a trademark delivery of Ashwin. His partnership with Hasaranga will be crucial for Sri Lanka in the middle overs. 11. Nuwan Thushara Nuwan Thushara. (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images) The Sri Lankan pacer Nuwan Thushara is a graduate of the Lasith Malinga school of bowling as he delivers the ball with a similar bowling action to that of the Sri Lankan bowling legend. Thushara has played just two T20Is for the national team, and although he has been expensive in his outings, he has shown glimpses of his incredible talent. Sri Lanka will be hoping that he can have a similar effect on the team that Malinga used to have, and his exploits with the ball in the death overs will be extremely vital for the team as they are guilty of bleeding runs in that phase of the innings.

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Asia Cup 2022: Predicted Sri Lanka Playing XI

Sri Lanka are the five-time Asia Cup winners, the second most successful side behind India in the tournament's history.

10. Maheesh Theekshana

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