Sri Lanka’s campaign in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 ended in disappointment after a heavy 61-run defeat against the New Zealand national cricket team at the R Premadasa Stadium on February 25. The loss officially knocked the co-hosts out of semifinal contention and capped off a dramatic collapse after a promising start to the tournament.

Led by Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lanka had begun their campaign in impressive fashion, winning their first three matches to comfortably secure a place in the Super 8 stage. At that stage, the hosts looked well on track to challenge for a semifinal spot. However, their momentum stalled after a defeat to Zimbabwe in their final group-stage fixture.

That loss appeared to trigger a downturn in form. Sri Lanka went on to lose both of their Super 8 matches, including the decisive defeat against New Zealand, which ultimately ended their hopes of progressing further in the tournament. Following the elimination, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara shared an emotional message for fans and players, reflecting on the pain of tournament exits. Posting on X, Sangakkara acknowledged the disappointment surrounding the team’s performance.

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“There is a lot of hurt all round. The fans were devastated, disappointed, and angry. The players are hurting badly too. I have been in similar dressing rooms. It’s not easy,” Kumar Sangakkara wrote. “But this responsibility comes with the turf. It’s a burden and a great privilege to represent your country and your people,” he added.

The former wicketkeeper-batter also raised concerns about the broader direction of Sri Lankan cricket, warning that the sport in the country must evolve to remain competitive in the rapidly changing global game.

There is a lot of hurt all round. The fans devastated , disappointed , 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 and

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) February 26, 2026

“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,” Sangakkara stated. “We haven’t adapted and the danger is irrelevance,” he concluded.

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With Sri Lanka now officially out of the semifinal race, the focus in Group 2 shifts to the remaining contenders. The England national cricket team has already secured its place in the knockout stage, leaving Pakistan and New Zealand battling for the final available semifinal spot.

Pakistan will face Sri Lanka in their next fixture, while New Zealand prepare for a high-stakes encounter against England that could determine the group’s final standings.