T20 World Cup 2021: Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI against West Indies

Bangladesh’s shambolic six-wicket loss against South Africa on Tuesday (November 2) has also diminished Sri Lanka’s hopes of advancing to the semifinals of the ongoing T20 World Cup. South Africa have six points on board, and table-toppers of Group A, England are placed handsomely at the top with 8 points. So, if Sri Lanka wins against West Indies, they will still end up with only four points.

The Lankan Lions only have pride left when they will be up against West Indies on Thursday (November 4) at the Abu Dhabi Stadium. If Sri Lanka have to look back at the World Cup campaign, then the management would agree that the batters collectively failed to perform. The likes of Kusal Perera, Avishka Fernando, and Pathum Nissanka got starts but didn’t score consistently in all the games. The pace bowlers Lahiru Kumara and Dushmanth Chameera too were of color in one or two games.

The biggest positive for Sri Lanka has been the performance of all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga. The leg-spinner has so far taken 14 wickets in just seven games and is the leading wicket-taker. He has been lethal, and his googlies are hard to pick by. He will be hoping to end the tournament on high for Sri Lanka.

Here is Sri Lanka’s predicted playing XI against West Indies

Openers – Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera

Both Nissanka and Perera have not performed collectively as a pair, and that has led to Sri Lanka not positing big scores. If one game Nissanka has performed, then in the next game he has not. The same is the case with Perera. The southpaw has failed to get going in all the matches, and that has hurt the team badly. He was the most experienced batter as well. Perera would be vying for some runs against West Indies.

Middle-order – Charith Asalanka, Avishika Fernando and Bhanuka Rajapaksa

The trio started the tournament with a bang in the Qualifiers but tempered off in the Super 12 stage. Fernando was even promoted to number four, but so far, he has not raked in huge numbers. Meanwhile, Asalanka and Rajapaksa’s plight have been the same. The former has slightly fared better as he has scored 163 runs. Asalanka’s problem has been he has got very little support from the end. Rajapaksa has scored 155 runs, but he has lacked consistency.

All-rounders – Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne

Skipper Shanaka promoted himself up the order against England. He scored 26 runs but failed to close the match. Shanaka has had this kind of tournament throughout the seven matches. In the bowling also he has bowled fewer overs. Karunaratne gave 17 runs in two overs and was taken off the attack. Hasaranga yet again shone brightly as he picked up three wickets and gave away just 21 runs. He is proving to be a real handful against the top teams as well.

Bowlers – Lahiru Kumara, Dushmanth Chameera, and Maheesh Theekshana

The pacers Kumara and Chameera let the team down against England. The duo gave 44 and 43 runs, respectively, and allowed Jos Buttler to run away with some freebies. The match against West Indies is going to be played at Abu Dhabi, and the pitch has so far offered pace and bounce. Mystery spinner Theekshana had a good outing against England. He gave only 13 runs and complimented Hasaranga well.