Sanath Jayasuriya Replaced By Sri Lankan Cricket (Source: AFP Photos)
Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) on Monday finally replaced Sanath Jayasuriya, who resigned from the head coach responsibility after a dismal performance in the T20 World Cup 2026. To replace the legendary personnel, the SLC made a terrific choice, as India’s good ol’ World Cup-winning hero took charge with an aim to bring back the glory.
Gary Kirsten, who played a pivotal role in India’s 2011 ODI World Cup glory, a triumph which they achieved under the leadership of MS Dhoni on the field. Kirsten was equally responsible for keeping things running smoothly off the field, making it all work in the all-important final against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Gary Kirsten Joins Sri Lanka; Replaces Sanath Jayasuriya
Gary Kirsten was India’s head coach from 2008 to 2011, and took over the same role for his home side, South Africa, from 2011 to 2013. He was even caught in cameras during the recently-concluded T20 World Cup, where Namibia hired him as a consultant.
While Jayasuriya was clinical in Sri Lanka’s recent success in international cricket, he could not replicate the success in the T20 World Cup Super 8 stage. As a result, he had to give up his role after attacks from the seniors for poor collective shows one after another.
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Now, Kirsten will have the responsibility to turn things around, as he has signed a two-year contract, effective from April 15, 2026, onwards.
Gary Kirsten Coaching Career
Having played 101 Tests and 185 ODIs, Kirsten was one of South Africa's most decorated players in international cricket. His coaching profile is not bad either, as he helped India get the number 1 rank in Test cricket as well.
He was the head coach of Pakistan in April 2024, though it did not age well after they had many differences with the PCB.
Moreover, Kirsten was associated with the IPL as well, with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Gujarat Titans (GT) being two of the franchises where he held the leadership roles.
When Will Sri Lanka Play Next?
Sri Lanka were impressive in the T20 World Cup 2026 group stage, having beaten Australia, which eventually ended the 2021 champions’ campaign. However, they failed to carry on the momentum in the Super 8 stage, having lost all three matches there, against England, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Sri Lanka had a series of white-ball matches scheduled against Afghanistan in the UAE, starting on March 13. However, due to the current Middle East situation, the T20I and the ODI series had to be postponed.
As things stand, Sri Lanka’s next assignment after the Afghanistan series are scheduled to get underway on September 15 onwards, with three T20Is and three ODIs slated to take place in England.
Nevertheless, the Sri Lanka versus Afghanistan series should not be delayed for long, and there must be more series announced in between, most probably once the IPL 2026 ends.
Also Read: List Of Records Made During India’s Colossal T20 World Cup Final Total Vs New Zealand
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