Sri Lanka Team. (Photo Source: Sri Cricket/Twitter)

Given their performances in recent years, Sri Lanka were not expected to have a successful outing in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, but no one would have thought that they would have a terrible campaign. Having lost two out of three matches, the Lankan Lions are currently bottom of the Group D points table and have packed their bags to return home. 

South Africa have already qualified and Bangladesh will probably join them to represent their group in the Super Eight stage. Sri Lanka started their campaign with a six-wicket loss to the Proteas and followed it up with a narrow two-wicket defeat to Bangladesh. Their subsequent game against Nepal was abandoned due to rain, marking their elimination.

Wanindu Hasaranga and his team’s final match is against the Netherlands. Although the game is not important for the 2014 champions, the Dutch team should win it by a good margin if they are looking for a place in the Super 8s. Sri Lanka will look to end their dreadful campaign on a positive note, but it will come at the cost of the Netherlands’ elimination.

Here is the strongest predicted playing XI of Sri Lanka for the 38th match of the T20 WC 2024 against Netherlands:

Openers: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk)

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis . (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

In both the matches, the Lankan openers did not bat four or more overs together. They got out cheaply against South Africa in Sri Lanka’s first match of the tournament. In the following match against Bangladesh, Pathum Nissanka shone with 47 off 28 balls, but Kusal Mendis once again failed to find any resistance as he was dismissed for just 10 runs.

Middle-order: Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka

Charith Asalanka. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)

Sri Lanka’s middle order failed to make significant contributions in both matches. Batting at No. 3, Kamindu Mendis managed to score just 15 runs in two innings. Charith Asalanka has also struggled to get going as he could make only 25 runs so far in the series. The left-handed batter has been one of the most reliable middle-order batters for the team in recent years, but he hasn’t been able to shine on the big stage.

All-rounders: Dhananjaya de Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga (C), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka

Wanindu Hasaranga. (Source – Twitter/X)

Dhananjaya de Silva has played only one match so far and he has done his part decently. Although he couldn’t score big, his 21 runs helped Sri Lanka post a respectable total of 124 runs against Bangladesh. The right-arm spinner also took one wicket in two overs at an economy of 5.50.

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga failed to lead the team from the front. He took just four wickets in two matches and his economy rate was not impressive either. Moreover, in both the matches the spin all-rounder was dismissed for a duck.

Angelo Mathews was expected to bring all his experience to the mega event but failed to save his team from trouble. Apart from a brilliant three-over spell against South Africa (1/6), Dasun Shanaka did nothing remarkable in either department so far.

Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara

Maheesha Theekshana. (Photo by Isuru Sameera Peiris/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Maheesh Theekshana has gone wicketless in both matches (bowled only one over against South Africa). Theekshana and Hasaranga were expected to trouble the opposition with their spin magic, but nothing has gone their way in the tournament so far.

Matheesha Pathirana has had a great campaign with Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. However, the young right-arm pacer failed to live up to expectations in the World Cup, taking one wicket in two innings. Nuwan Thushara has been the stand-out bowler for the team so far. The 29-year-old has taken five wickets in two matches, including a four-wicket haul against Bangladesh.

SL’s Predicted XI for the game against NED:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kamindu Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga (C), Angelo Mathews, Dasun Shanaka, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara.