Sri Lanka predicted XI (Source: AFP)The Sri Lanka cricket team will be crossing paths with Pakistan on Friday, October 9 in the first T20I of their three-match series. The match will be hosted by the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.The match marks the first T20I outing for both sides since returning from the 2026 Asian Games in Nisshin, Japan earlier this month. Pakistan vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I, 2026 PreviewJust a week ago, Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) confirmed a 15-player Sri Lanka squad for the three-match T20I series in Pakistan. Kusal Mendis will lead the side after he, along with many other senior cricketers, were rested from the Asian Games in Japan.The series against Pakistan marks a must-win one for Sri Lanka, considering the team is yet to win a single T20I series since defeating Zimbabwe in Harare way back in September last year. Since then, the Sri Lanka team has lost a tri-series to Pakistan, two bilateral series to England and one to West Indies, and also failed to reach the semifinal of the 2026 T20 World Cup. ALSO READPakistan vs Sri Lanka Head to Head Records In T20Is- 1st T20I, Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan 2026Here is a look at a predicted playing XI for the Sri Lanka team for the first T20I match of the series against Pakistan.Sri Lanka likely playing XI vs Pakistan, 1st T20I, 2026Openers and Top Order: Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (c and wk), Kamil MisharaWith Pathum Nissanka out of the squad owing to his injury, the Sri Lanka cricket team will likely open the innings with Lahiru Udara and captain Kusal Mendis. Udara recently opened the innings in Sri Lanka’s series in England, scoring 36 runs in three innings at a dismal average of 12.However, the 32-year-old will likely receive another crack in the playing XI despite his underwhelming tour of England. Captain Kusal Mendis, a veteran of 109 T20I matches, boasts of a staggering record in the format with over 2,500 runs to his name.Fellow top-order batter Kamil Mishara will likely bat at number three. He averages nearly 30 in the format after playing 86 games, including 27 internationals for Sri Lanka.Middle-order and All-rounders: Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu WickramasingheBatting all-rounders Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige and Dasun Shanaka will constitute the middle-order of the Sri Lankan team. Kamindu recently fired cracking knocks in white-ball fixtures in England. Arachchige, meanwhile, averages 25.91 and holds an overall strike rate of nearly 125 in the format. Senior pro and former captain Dasun Shanaka is capable of going berserk in the slog overs, as evidenced by his strike rate of nearly 130. While Kamindu Mendis and Sahan Arachchige can also lend their arm for a few overs of spin, Dasun can send down a couple of overs with his medium pace bowling.Fellow batting all-rounder Chamindu Wickramasinghe will likely return to the Sri Lanka XI in T20Is after a gap of nearly two years. The cricketer recently played for the Burgher Recreation Club in the Major Clubs T20 Tournament. Bowlers: Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan ThusharaNuwan Thushara will open the bowling for Sri Lanka, and will be expected to bat at number 11. The speedster has already picked up 38 wickets in the format at an average of 22.68. In the absence of injured Wanindu Hasaranga, fellow spin bowler Maheesh Theekshana will lead Sri Lanka’s spin attack. The 26-year-old, a veteran of 87 T20I matches, has picked up 84 wickets and holds an impressive economy of just 7.11.Fast bowler Eshan Malinga might assist Nuwan Thushara in the powerplay overs, and the playing XI can also be comprised of left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage, who collected 14 wickets in just 10 innings of this year’s LPL 2026 season.Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI vs Pakistan For 1st T20I, 2026 Lahiru Udara, Kusal Mendis (c and wk), Kamil Mishara, Kamindu Mendis, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Maheesh Theekshana and Nuwan Thushara.ALSO READIndia vs West Indies Player Battles- 2nd T20I, WI tour of IND 2026
