Sri Lanka out to shrug off the home-team blues

Who wants to be a host? At this point in the T20 World Cup, perhaps very few hands would go up. Maybe none. The two co-hosts, India and Sri Lanka, are both feeling the heat, their campaigns already wobbling in the Super Eights. The defeats were heavy, yes, but it was the manner of them that stung more. On surfaces they have grown up on, the batting looked limited, short on imagination and, at times, bereft of solutions.

For Sri Lanka, the unease goes a little further back. The loss to Zimbabwe in the final league fixture might have come with a few changes and at a venue that hasn't always been kind to them in T20Is, but it still jarred. On most days, you expect Sri Lanka to beat Zimbabwe. Instead, as a consequence of that loss, they head into a must-win clash against New Zealand, knowing another slip could end their tournament.

For New Zealand, the uncertainty is of a different kind. By the time they take the field, they would have watched every other team play a match in the Super Eights. Stocks have dipped for the likes of India and Sri Lanka in the meantime, and risen for the likes of South Africa and West Indies, but for New Zealand, the shares haven't even been listed yet. They made the journey across the Palk Strait and are still waiting to discover how their game stacks up on slower pitches and larger outfields.

Captain Mitchell Santner admitted it "feels like we haven't played for a few days", a nod to the washout and the extended break that followed. Training sessions - two of them, one in the afternoon and another in the evening - can only simulate so much.

The stakes are higher for Sri Lanka, but there isn't plenty of wiggle room for New Zealand either.

When: Wednesday, 25 February 2026, at 7:00 PM local

Where: R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo

What to expect: Mitchell Santner said in his press conference that it's a "fresh pitch" for this match, but that's unlikely to change how the teams approach this. Spin is going to play a major role again, scoring through the middle overs is going to be key again, and the big ground dimensions aren't going anywhere. The forecast is for a cloudy day but no rains are expected.

Team news:

Sri Lanka

Kamil Mishara came in for Kusal Perera in the last match and it looks like Sri Lanka are likely to stick to Mishara for this match as well.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis(w), Pavan Rathnayake, Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka(c), Dunith Wellalage, Dushan Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka

New Zealand

Mitchell Santner confirmed that all 15 players are available to pick. For their last match against Pakistan that was unfortunately rained out, New Zealand brought in legspinner Ish Sodhi for the first time in their Playing XI, with Lockie Ferguson and Matt Henry the two front-line pacers. With spin likely to call the shots again, there's little reason why they would want to change that combination.

Probable XI: Tim Seifert(w), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner(c), James Neesham, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson

Did you know?

= In 10 T20Is between the sides in Sri Lanka, New Zealand lead 5-4 (one no-result).

- Post T20 World Cup 2024, New Zealand have the best average and dot% (lowest) vs spin among 12 Full-Member nations, while their SR and boundary percentage are second only to India's.

What they said

"We know how important a home World Cup is. The fans have turned up in numbers and we have always believed that we can make it to the semi-finals. The last two games haven't gone to our plan but we are looking forward to the must-win clash tomorrow." - Dunith Wellalage

"We know Sri Lanka are a great team obviously. They showed that in the first stage of the group. Everyone's just trying to get through to the Super 8s. I guess that was the first thing to be ticked off. England are a great side and we saw that on a slightly slower wicket. If you lose Powerplay wickets at the start, it can be a challenge, but we know they've got quality all the way throughout. Obviously missing a couple of players through injury, but, in saying that, they're still very good." - Mitchell Santner