Sri Lanka have suffered a major blow in their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign with Wanindu Hasaranga ruled out of the remainder of the tournament due to a left hamstring injury. The star all-rounder picked up the strain during Sri Lanka’s opening match against Ireland in Colombo, and scans have confirmed that he will be sidelined for around four weeks. With the marquee event moving at a fast pace, the injury brings a premature end to Hasaranga’s World Cup journey in a tournament co-hosted by his own country.
Hasaranga showed visible discomfort during his spell against Ireland but still pushed through the pain to deliver a match-winning performance. He finished with impressive figures of 3 for 25, underlining just how crucial he is to Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
However, an MRI scan conducted the following day revealed the extent of the hamstring strain, forcing the team management to make the tough call. Leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha has been named as his replacement in the squad. The 31-year-old has limited international experience, with five ODIs and three T20Is to his name, but his ability to control the middle overs will now be tested on the biggest stage.
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Sri Lanka began their T20 World Cup campaign with a confidence-boosting 20-run win over Ireland at the R Premadasa Stadium. After a shaky start with the bat, Kamindu Mendis’ rapid 19-ball 44 and Kusal Mendis’ unbeaten 56 lifted the hosts to a competitive 163 for six.
JUST IN: Wanindu Hasaranga has been ruled out of the #T20WorldCup after an MRI scan on Tuesday revealed a serious tear in his left hamstring
He will likely be replaced in Sri Lanka’s squad by fellow legspin-bowling allrounder Dushan Hemantha pic.twitter.com/u9lELt336R
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) February 10, 2026
In reply, Ireland showed intent through Ross Adair and Harry Tector, but the chase lost momentum once Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana tightened the screws in the middle overs. Hasaranga’s timely breakthroughs, including the key wickets of Adair and Tector, swung the game decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.
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Beyond the result, Hasaranga also climbed to become the second-highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history, a milestone that highlights his impact in global tournaments. His absence will leave a significant void in both skill and leadership. Sri Lanka will now rely heavily on Theekshana to shoulder more responsibility as they face Oman, Australia and Zimbabwe in crucial group fixtures. Winning at least two of those games will be vital if the co-hosts are to keep their knockout hopes firmly on track.
