Kumar Sangakkara Critiques Sri Lanka's T20 World Cup Exit

Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lankan captain, has voiced his disappointment following the team's exit from the T20 World Cup 2026 after a defeat to New Zealand. He highlighted the emotional impact on both players and fans, emphasizing the need for the team to adapt to the evolving landscape of T20 cricket. With their campaign concluding, Sri Lanka aims to finish on a high note against Pakistan in their final Super 8 match. Sangakkara's reflections underscore the challenges faced by the team since their last World Cup victory in 2014.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 26, 2026, 15:18 IST

Disappointment for Sri Lanka in T20 World Cup

Kumar Sangakkara, the former captain and renowned batsman of Sri Lanka, openly shared his disappointment regarding the team's exit from the T20 World Cup 2026. This followed a 61-run defeat against New Zealand during the Super 8 match held at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on February 25.

Facing a target of 169 runs, Sri Lanka struggled significantly, managing only 107 runs for 8 wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The team lost five wickets for a mere 46 runs within 10.3 overs and further collapsed to 77 for 7 by the 15th over, ultimately bowing out of the tournament after suffering a second consecutive Super 8 loss. Their earlier defeat against England had already placed them on the brink of elimination.

Only Kamindu Mendis, who scored 31 runs, and Dunith Wellalege with 29 runs, offered some resistance against New Zealand's disciplined bowling attack, but their efforts were insufficient to avert a heavy defeat.

Sangakkara's Reflections on Team's Performance

Following Sri Lanka's exit from the T20 World Cup, Kumar Sangakkara expressed his deep disappointment over the team's lackluster performance at such a critical juncture of the tournament.

In a post on his X account (formerly Twitter), Sangakkara conveyed the collective pain and frustration felt by both players and fans, acknowledging the emotional toll of yet another disappointing campaign.

He stated, "There is a lot of hurt all around. The fans are devastated, disappointed, and angry. The players are hurting badly too. I have been in similar dressing rooms. It’s not easy. But this responsibility comes with the turf. It’s a burden and a great privilege to represent your country."

A Call for Adaptation in T20 Cricket

Sangakkara further elaborated on Sri Lanka's disappointing T20 World Cup journey, emphasizing the need for the team to adapt to the evolving demands of modern T20 cricket. He warned that failing to learn from past mistakes could lead the former champions into obscurity.

"There is a lot of work to be done at all levels to course correct. We can’t do the same things over and over and expect different results when the cricket world around us has evolved so quickly. We haven’t adapted, and the danger is irrelevance," he remarked.

As Sri Lanka's pursuit of a second T20 World Cup title concludes, they aim to end their disappointing campaign on a positive note against Pakistan in their final Super 8 match at Pallekale International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on February 28.

Pakistan, needing a significant win against Sri Lanka, will also rely on England defeating New Zealand, with net run rate likely determining who advances to the semifinals.