Bhanuka, DDS in line for T20 recall
Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Batters Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dhananjaya de Silva are set to make their comebacks for next month’s tour of Pakistan, as Sri Lanka look to steady a fragile batting line-up ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
The tour will feature a three-match ODI series followed by a T20 tri-series involving hosts Pakistan and Afghanistan, beginning on November 11.
Both Rajapaksa and de Silva were key figures in Sri Lanka’s triumphant 2022 Asia Cup campaign but were left out of this year’s edition, when the selectors gambled on an allrounder-heavy squad, a decision that backfired.
Chief selector Upul Tharanga confirmed that both these players have been added to a preliminary squad that would soon begin their preparations for the Pakistan tour.
“They are both being included,” said Tharanga.
“We have a squad of about 22 for the World Cup. It is from that we have to select the team. Both Rajapaksa and de Silva have been training throughout at the High-Performance Centre and are in good frame.”
After an unbeaten run through the group stage, Sri Lanka’s campaign at the Asia Cup unravelled in the Super Four, with defeats to Bangladesh, Pakistan and eventual champions India. The batting frailties were laid bare as there was too much dependence on individual brilliance and too little collective effort.
Amid the chaos, opener Pathum Nissanka remained the lone bright spark, continuing his role as the team’s most reliable performer. But as the World Cup looms, the selectors have finally recognised the need for experience, calm and structure in the middle order.
Rajapaksa’s recall brings back a player who, at his best, is a match winner. A fearless stroke-maker, he thrives under pressure. His unbeaten 71 in the 2022 Asia Cup final against Pakistan remains his most memorable white-ball innings in career. Across multi-nation tournaments, he averages 31.40 with a strike rate of 138.12, numbers that underline his big-match temperament.
Dhananjaya de Silva
But his form since then has been patchy at best. Over the past two years, the 33-year-old has struggled to stay fit and consistent, managing just 57 runs in nine matches. His batting average has plummeted to single figure digits, costing him a place in the Asia Cup squad. The Pakistan tour could well be his final audition before selectors finalise their World Cup plans.
If Rajapaksa brings flair, Dhananjaya de Silva offers balance. The technically sound right-hander and useful off-spinner fits perfectly into Sri Lanka’s subcontinent blueprint. His T20 numbers, a batting average of 21.17 and a bowling average of 20.43, reflect his ability to contribute on both fronts. In World Cup games, those figures improve further, highlighting his value in high-stakes contests.
However, questions remain about his batting consistency. He has only three T20I half-centuries to his name and has often gone missing when the team has been under pressure.
For Sri Lanka, whose batting collapses have become painfully familiar, recalling two experienced campaigners feel like a move toward stability rather than experimentation. The Pakistan series will likely serve as a proving ground, offering both players a final chance to cement their places.
As the countdown to the World Cup begins, their return brings a flicker of hope — that experience, discipline, and a touch of old fire might finally help Sri Lanka rebuild a batting unit capable of competing with the world’s best.
Sri Lanka has a minimum of 11 T20 internationals and the Lanka Premier League (LPL) to finalise their World Cup Squad before the T20 World Cup which is scheduled to take place in India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 9, 2026.