Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka shares emotional message after team’s T20 World Cup 2026 elimination

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The dream of a fairy-tale finish on home soil turned into a nightmare for Sri Lanka on Wednesday. In a high-stakes Super Eights clash (Match 46, Group 2) at the iconic R. Premadasa Stadium, the tournament co-hosts were unceremoniously dumped out of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 by a clinical New Zealand side. A 61-run defeat not only ended their semi-final aspirations but also underscored a growing gulf in tactical execution and middle-order intent that has haunted the island nation since their 2014 glory.

The atmosphere in Colombo was electric at the start, but as the lights took full effect, the home side withered under the pressure of the Black Caps’ spin-heavy assault. Chasing 169 for survival, Sri Lanka’s batting lineup crumbled, managing a meager 107/8 in their allotted 20 overs.

Following the final delivery, a visibly dejected Dasun Shanaka did not mince words during the post-match presentation. The Sri Lankan skipper labelled the performance “very embarrassing,” particularly given the unwavering support of the local crowd who had filled the Premadasa in hopes of a historic revival.

Shanaka pointed to a disastrous final four overs of the New Zealand innings as the turning point. Despite having the Kiwis reeling at 84/6 in the 13th over, Sri Lanka conceded 70 runs in the death overs, largely due to a resilient partnership between Mitchell Santner and Cole McConchie.

“It is very embarrassing to disappoint the home crowd. You know, they’ve been very supportive. It’s like we started really well, but to be honest, the Santner-McConchie and that partnership, it was a good one, which took the game away from us, we wanted to restrict them around 130,” Shanaka admitted in the post-match presentation.

The captain also issued a blunt critique of his batting unit’s lack of aggression. Sri Lanka’s Powerplay was uncharacteristically sluggish, yielding only 20 runs for the loss of two wickets. Shanaka emphasized that “intent” was the missing ingredient.

“The batsmen need to take responsibility. You can’t rely on one or two men. In T20 cricket, you need to show intent. If you get out taking the positive option, you can at least be relaxed in the dugout, but we didn’t take our chances,” he added.

Also READ: Rachin Ravindra shines as New Zealand eliminate co-hosts Sri Lanka from T20 World Cup 2026

The architect of Sri Lanka’s downfall was undoubtedly Rachin Ravindra, whose Player of the Match performance showcased why he is considered one of the premier all-rounders in modern cricket. The match flow was a tale of two halves: New Zealand started strong with Finn Allen (23) and Tim Seifert, but a triple-strike from Maheesh Theekshana (3/30) left them gasping at 84/6. However, Mitchell Santner’s blistering 47 off 26 balls propelled the visitors to a competitive 168/7.

When it was Sri Lanka’s turn to bat, the pitch, a fresh surface that Shanaka expected to settle, turned into a spinner’s paradise. New Zealand’s tactical masterstroke was bowling 17 overs of spin. Ravindra was the pick of the bowlers, utilizing the grip and bounce to dismantle the middle order. He finished with remarkable figures of 4/27, accounting for the crucial wickets of Kusal Mendis, Pavan Rathnayake, and Shanaka himself.

Sri Lanka’s scorecard made for grim reading. Pathum Nissanka fell for a golden duck to Matt Henry, and only Dunith Wellalage (29) showed any late resistance. The Black Caps’ discipline was surgical, with Mitchell Santner (1/19) and Glenn Phillips (1/21) suffocating the scoring rates.

As the tournament moves toward the knockouts, Sri Lanka are left to play for pride in their final fixture, while New Zealand marches on, fueled by the brilliance of Ravindra and a spin department that looked untouchable under the Colombo lights.

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