Sri Lanka rise under coach Sanath Jayasuriya

In barely a few months as a coach, Sanath Jayasuriya has really transformed the whole environment and made Sri Lanka’s status as an international powerhouse. Let us look at Sri Lanka comeback in international cricket

Joining the side as an interim coach ahead of India series in July, Sanath Jayasuriya was promoted to full-time coach till ICC T20 World Cup 2026, owing to Sri Lanka’s splendid performances against top opponents such as India and England. 

For a long time, nothing went well for Sri Lanka. The runners-up of the 2007, 2011 ODI World Cups, and the winner of 2014 T20 World Cup, have failed to reach even semifinals of any of ODI and T20I World Cup since their last ICC triumph in 2014.  

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While they have not even found a place in any of the WTC finals. Following a debacle run in T20 World Cup 2024, in which the Sri Lankan team was eliminated in the first round itself, Sanath Jayasuriya stepped in as interim head coach and changed the entire scenario.  

Under Jayasuriya, Sri Lanka won an ODI series against India after 27 years, won a test match in England after ten years. Defeated New Zealand 2-0 in home test series, while claimed success over West Indies in both T20I and ODI series at home.  

Sri Lanka under head coach Sanath Jayasuriya

→ 3-0 ODI series win over India after 27 years  

→ Test win in England after 10 years  

→ 2-0 home test series win vs New Zealand  

→ 2-1 home T20I series victory against West Indies  

→ 2-1 home ODI series victory against West Indies 

A team that was not at all considered a threat at all suddenly emerged as contender for WTC finals, posing a challenge to all the major teams in each format of the game.

Sri Lanka comeback in international cricket

It is a positive sign for one of prominent Asian cricket teams, and if they keep playing in the similar manner, they will soon be able to claim their place among the top teams in the world again. 

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