Gary Kirsten Appointed as Head Coach of Sri Lanka's Men's Cricket Team

Sri Lanka has appointed Gary Kirsten as the new head coach of its men's cricket team, starting April 15. Kirsten, a former South African cricketer, is renowned for leading India to the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup victory and has an impressive coaching background. His primary focus will be preparing the team for the 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe. This change comes after the resignation of Sanath Jayasuriya, following a recent loss to Pakistan. Kirsten's extensive experience as both a player and coach positions him well for this new challenge.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 9, 2026, 20:43 IST

Sri Lanka Welcomes Gary Kirsten as New Head Coach

Sri Lanka has officially named Gary Kirsten as the head coach for its national men's cricket team, effective April 15. The former South African cricketer and esteemed coach will take on this pivotal role.

A Remarkable Coaching Journey

Kirsten boasts an impressive coaching resume, having led India to triumph in the 2011 ICC Cricket World Cup. He also guided South Africa to achieve the number one ranking in international cricket across all formats in 2013. Recently, he worked as a consultant for Namibia during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, according to the ICC.

This appointment follows the resignation of Sanath Jayasuriya, the previous head coach, which came shortly after Sri Lanka's narrow defeat to Pakistan by 5 runs in their final Super Eight match of the 2026 T20 World Cup.

A Distinguished Playing Career

Prior to his coaching success, Kirsten had a notable playing career for South Africa from 1993 to 2004, amassing over 14,000 international runs, which included 21 centuries in Test matches and 13 in ODIs.

Key Responsibilities Ahead

Kirsten's main task will be to prepare the Sri Lankan team for the upcoming 2027 ICC Cricket World Cup, which will be co-hosted by South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe.

Career Statistics Overview

During his playing days, Kirsten was among South Africa's top batsmen, scoring 7,289 runs in 101 Test matches, with 21 centuries and 34 half-centuries. In ODIs, he accumulated 6,798 runs across 185 matches, including 13 centuries and 45 fifties.

After retiring, Kirsten transitioned into coaching, becoming India's head coach in 2007, leading them to the ICC ODI World Cup victory in 2011. He also briefly served as the head coach for the Pakistan men's team in 2024 before stepping down.